Leicestershire Police Federation has praised the work of outgoing Chief Constable Rob Nixon, after he announced his retirement.

CC Nixon, who joined the force in 1993, took on the role on a temporary basis in March 2022 before his position was made permanent later that year.

Ahead of his retirement in March, he said leading the force had been "the honour of a lifetime".

Andy Spence, Chair of Leicestershire Police Federation, said: “It is sad to see CC Rob Nixon retire, he had a care, compassion and commitment to policing that has shone through brightly over his 32 years service.

“He worked across a number of different roles both in uniform and CID. In the recent time he has led the work on the Police Memorial Garden; showing his ongoing commitment to police officers and the communities that they serve.

“CC Nixon has always been approachable, looking to improve things for the officers under his command. He will be sorely missed, this is a big loss for the force. We look forward to working with him over the next two months and wish him well for his retirement.”

CC Nixon added: "Over the years, I've had the privilege to work alongside some incredible people whose endless commitment to our communities has continually inspired me to do more," he said.

"I have been fortunate to serve vibrant and diverse communities throughout my career. The unique support of local people and partners has been integral to keeping people safe.

"Policing has been one of the most rewarding careers I could imagine and I'm incredibly proud of all we've accomplished together.

"While I will step away from day-to-day leadership, I look forward to remaining involved in supporting national and local improvements and continuing to contribute in new ways in the future."