PCC names preferred candidate to lead the Force

26 August 2022

The Deputy Chief Constable of Derbyshire Police has been selected as the preferred candidate to succeed Craig Guildford as the Force’s Chief Constable, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) has announced.

Kate Meynell, who hails from Nottinghamshire, was previously Assistant Chief Constable with the Force for two and a half years.

Her appointment will need to be confirmed by the Nottinghamshire Police and Crime Panel when it meets on 21 September.

“Kate will be joining us during what are very challenging times for the police service,” says Tom Hill, secretary of Nottinghamshire Police Federation, “We send her our congratulations and look forward to working with her.”

Kate has spent most of her career with Nottinghamshire Police. As ACC, she led the Force’s knife crime strategy and chaired the regional strategic response to the pandemic.

Kate said: “I’m extremely proud to be named as the preferred candidate to be the next Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police. t is my home county; one I love and one in which I am proud to have served for most of my career.

“I will bring passion and authenticity to the role, working with the PCC to deliver the best service I can to the people of Nottinghamshire, delivering an outstanding police service we can all be proud of.

“I have really enjoyed working for Derbyshire Constabulary, where I have worked alongside some excellent officers and staff, but I am excited about this new challenge and truly honoured to be put forward for the role of leading my home force.”

PCC Caroline Henry, who led the selection process and chaired a final interview panel, said: “Kate is an outstanding leader and I am looking forward to working closely with her.

“Craig Guildford has been an excellent Chief Constable over the last five years at Nottinghamshire Police, during which crime has fallen, officer numbers have reached their highest in over a decade and neighbourhood policing has expanded. Craig will continue to lead the Force until the end of the year before moving to take up the Chief Constable position at West Midlands Police, where we wish him well.”

Kate has been DCC at Derbyshire Constabulary since January 2021.