New West Yorkshire chief constable is welcomed (From Wharfedale Observer)
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New West Yorkshire chief constable is welcomed
4:21pm Thursday 7th February 2013 in News
New Chief Constable Mark Gilmore
A senior officer who helped to organise the successful policing of the English Defence League demonstration in Bradford has been appointed to replace Chief Constable Sir Norman Bettison.
The appointment of Mark Gilmore, a former Assistant Chief Constable with the West Yorkshire force, is expected to be ratified by the Police and Crime Panel tomorrow. Mr Gilmore’s appointment to the top officer’s role was announced last week by West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson.
Mr Gilmore was ACC (Specialist Operations) for two years, during which he worked on the major operation to police the EDL demonstration in Bradford, before he was appointed Deputy Chief Constable of Northumbria Police 18 months ago.
The Chief Constable’s post had been vacant since October when under-fire Mr Bettison resigned in the light of allegations relating to his behaviour following the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, in which 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives.
Deputy Chief Constable John Parkinson stepped in as acting Chief Constable and is understood to have been one of five candidates interviewed for the job.
Mr Burns-Williamson said the appointment of Mr Gilmore was a new dawn for policing in West Yorkshire, and people could share his high personal confidence in his abilities.
He added: “This is the start of a new era which will build on past success. Mark Gilmore is someone I’ve known for a long time, and as Assistant Chief Constable he was at the heart of operations in Bradford and has a very good knowledge of policing issues in the city.”
Mr Burns-Williamson said selecting the right person for the job had been a crucial and difficult task. “The standard of all candidates was excellent. But Mark Gilmore is a strong character who will take a very good lead on all matters. He is well respected within the service and will make an excellent Chief Constable.”
