The Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police, Lisa Winward, has announced she will be retiring on 31st March 2024.
It follows a policing career spanning more than 30 years - starting out as a volunteer Special Constable in York and then joining Humberside Police as a full time officer. She returned to North Yorkshire in 2008 and became Chief Constable five years ago in 2018.
Speaking about her decision, Chief Constable Winward said: “I am immensely proud to have been a police officer and public servant for 30 years, and it has been an absolute privilege and honour to serve as the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police for over five years.
“My heartfelt appreciation goes to each and every member of our team here at North Yorkshire Police who consistently display relentless dedication and hard work to keep our communities safe and feeling safe. North Yorkshire is truly an amazing place full of lovely people and I can think of no better place to have served during my policing career.
“It was a very difficult decision to make but I feel that the time is right for me to retire. I will still be here for several months and look forward to saying goodbyes in person to as many people as possible who I have had the privilege to meet during my time in policing.”
Chief Constable Winward's roles with the force have included Chief Inspector, Superintendent and Commander in York, before a number of force-wide roles at police HQ. 2009 and 2013. After leading the local policing portfolio as Assistant Chief Constable throughout 2016, in February 2017 she became Deputy Chief Constable at North Yorkshire Police before taking over as Chief Constable the following year.
In 2022 she was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished policing service.
Paying tribute to Chief Constable Winward, Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe said: “On behalf of the public, and personally, I would like to thank Chief Constable Lisa Winward for her distinguished service to our communities and to North Yorkshire Police, her dedication of over 30 years of public service and collaboration has shone through whilst serving as a leader here at North Yorkshire Police and I feel privileged to have spent time working alongside such a remarkable individual. I know all of us here in York and North Yorkshire wish Lisa well in her future plans.”
The force says an announcement about the arrangements for appointing Chief Constable Winward’s successor will be made in due course.
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