SUFFOLK’S Chief Constable Simon Ash today announced he is to retire from his post early next year.

Mr Ash, who joined Suffolk Constabulary as Chief Constable on June 4, 2007, will step down in February.

Following his decision to retire, he said: “My contract with Suffolk was due to come to an end earlier in the year but I decided to remain in post to oversee the transition to the Police and Crime Commissioner.

“With the election behind us, it now seems an appropriate time to hand over to a new Chief Constable, who can take the Constabulary forward with the new Police and Crime Commissioner, Tim Passmore.”

“I will be working with Tim to support him through his first three months.

“I have worked closely with Tim over the past five years in his role as leader of Mid Suffolk District Council and I wish him every success for the future.

“The PCC heralds a major change to the way in which policing is governed and I know he will have the full support of my colleagues in his work over the coming years.”

Mr Ash will be taking up a position as an independent member of the Parole Board when he leaves the Constabulary in February.

Tim Passmore, Suffolk’s new Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “I would like to thank Simon for the support he has given me to date.

“It is not by accident that Suffolk is one of the safest counties; Simon has led Suffolk Constabulary through some testing financial times and I applaud him for his commitment to the Constabulary.

“I now look forward to recruiting a new Chief Constable to work with me to continue to shape our policing service to meet the challenge of keeping all Suffolk’s communities safe.”

Mr Ash was awarded a Queen’s Police Medal in The Queen’s Birthday Honours’ List in June this year.

At the time he said: “It is a real honour to receive this award and it has been a privilege to lead Suffolk Constabulary for the last five years.”

Mr Ash was born in Kent and, after studying at Birmingham University, joined Kent County Constabulary in 1982.

In 2001 he joined Hertfordshire Constabulary as Assistant Chief Constable, Operations, and held that position until 2003 when he was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable.

As Deputy Chief Constable he was responsible for Organisational Intelligence, Human Resources and Corporate Communication.

Mr Ash is currently the ACPO lead on Reward and Recognition having led the portfolio since 2005.

He sits on the Police Negotiating Board, Police Advisory Board and Police Staff Council. He is currently involved in the ACPO response to the Winsor Review of police officers terms and conditions.

Mr Ash was appointed Co-Director of Police National Assessment Centres in 2009.

Mr Ash is the third chief constable to announce he is stepping down after last week’s elections for the first Police and Crime Commissioners, who will take over the running of police forces.

The heads of Essex Police, and Avon and Somerset Constabulary have also announced they will be stepping down.