Dorset Police Chief resigns
Martin Baker will stand down at the end of the month.
The Chief Constable of Dorset Police has resigned.
Martin Baker will step down at the end of this month and says that after 38 years as a serving police officer he felt the time was right to hand over leadership of the Force.
Mr Baker took up his position in 2005.
Commenting on Mr Baker’s decision to resign, the Chairman of the Police Authority, Michael Taylor said: "The Police Authority wishes to express its appreciation for the huge contribution Mr Baker has made to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the Force. Under his leadership crime has consistently fallen and public confidence increased despite unprecedented cuts in funding.”
Mr Baker said: "After eight years as Chief Constable in Dorset and over 38 years as a serving police officer, I feel the time is right to hand over leadership of the Force.
"I consider it a privilege to have been the Chief Constable of such an excellent Force, the success of which has been entirely due to the commitment, drive and ability of our police officers, police staff, Special Constables and volunteers who – every minute, of every hour, of every day – work to make Dorset even safer. I would particularly like to thank my wife and my three daughters for their immense support throughout my policing career, they have cheerfully endured all of the house moves and the endless new schools and I cannot fully express to them my immense gratitude.
"I have absolute confidence in the Force and this is epitomised by the excellent results this summer in both the policing of the Force area and delivering a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games in Weymouth and Portland. However, the success of the Force also relies on the support of the wider community and the work that we do in partnership with other local organisations and I thank them all for the work that they do to help protect the public.”
The Police Authority has appointed Debbie Simpson as Acting Chief Constable and she will take up her new role on 1 October 2012.
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