News

New deputy chief constable job to progress regional policing

14 January 2010

Mark Whyman has been appointed as temporary deputy chief constable for Yorkshire and the Humber. His new role is aimed at building a tier of delivery against criminals who cross force boundaries, as well as securing value for money in policing between the four police forces of Yorkshire and the Humber.

North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and Humberside Police forces have been working together over the last two years to build capacity and capability in specialist and strategic areas of policing. Joint working between the forces seeks to provide a resilient regional capability to support local policing. They are collaborating to identify efficiency and productivity savings through improved practices, joint procurement and harmonising training and support areas where this provides advantages.

Mr Whyman, 47, has moved to this role from his previous position in South Yorkshire Police, where he was assistant chief constable, supporting the chief constable as a member of the Senior Command Team. He is currently responsible for personnel, corporate communications, criminal justice and offender management across South Yorkshire. He takes up his new appointment today (January 18) and will be tasked with providing clear leadership as the four forces continue to explore areas of policing and back-office support which can benefit from joint working.

Mr Whyman said: "I have seen policing challenges shift and grow throughout my 25-year policing career and can clearly see the benefits of working across force boundaries. As criminals become more mobile and exploit technology, we are working together to utilise innovative technology and specialist skills. We need to continue to adapt to the challenges this brings and continue to combat crime and criminals."

"My job is to promote the benefits of collaboration, command regional operations, and deliver value for money to the four forces of Yorkshire and the Humber, which represents about 10 per cent of UK policing. The forces and authorities of Yorkshire and the Humber are committed to meeting the challenges of the 21st century in a cost effective way."

"This is an exciting challenge by nurturing the excellent working relationships that we enjoy across the four forces of the region and, with the rolling support of the four police authorities, we can continue to strengthen our abilities in specialist policing areas, driving efficiencies and productivity by providing additional services regionally."

The four police forces of Yorkshire and the Humber already have specialist operational units in place to tackle cross-border crime and develop intelligence on serious and organised crime groups.

These include the regional roads policing team, set up in September 2008 to deny criminals the use of the region's roads. In a short space of time, the team has supported neighbourhood teams across the region, with over 500 arrests and retrieving over ?4.75m of assets from criminals.

The regional intelligence unit provides valuable insights into criminal activity assisting the four forces in disrupting and disbanding organised criminal gangs. The regional asset recovery team has been very successful in using the power of the Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) legislation to strip convicted criminals of their illegal assets.

Charles Perryman, chair of South Yorkshire Police Authority and current Chair of the regional Joint Police Authorities Committee, added: ?All four Police Authorities across Yorkshire and the Humber recognise the importance of collaborative working across the Police Service.

"The original drive for establishing the Yorkshire and Humberside Police Authorities Committee was to strengthen joint working between the Forces."

"Criminal activity does not recognise administrative boundaries and the successes we have already achieved in Yorkshire and the Humber has convinced us that we should pursue further collaborative opportunities."

"Mark Whyman's appointment recognises our combined commitment to joint working and will help us identify further the possibilities to improve the efficiency and productivity of policing across the region. An officer at this senior level will increase our pace and coordination of this ambitious programme of work."

"Mark will play a vital role in building on the joint working we have already initiated and taking Yorkshire and the Humber to the next level."

The appointment is initially for a temporary period, until 31 March 2011, while the four Police Authorities and Chief Constables develop the long-term strategy for the region.

With more than 25 years experience as a police officer, Mr Whyman has served previously with West Yorkshire Police, where he was acting assistant chief constable.

He held a range of operational postings including being commander of Keighley and later Wakefield Division, and works actively for the Association of Chief Police Officers' Children and Young People Business Area, leading on performance issues.

Mr Whyman holds extensive experience of multi-agency command. This has included commanding the policing response to the Bradford Riots in 2001 and commanded the multi-agency emergency response to the South Yorkshire floods in 2007.

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