The most senior police officer in West Yorkshire is to step down citing 'health challenges'.

Chief Constable Dee Collins, who has held West Yorkshire Police's highest rank since November 2016, said she was retiring for 'personal reasons' at the end of April.

Ms Collins, who joined the force as Temporary Chief Constable in June 2014, said: "I recognise that my announcement means that I will be leaving shortly, however, I am stepping down for personal reasons to face some new health challenges that I would prefer to manage in private rather than as Chief Constable in full public view.

"For this reason, I will be stepping down from the service at the end of April, leaving a very capable and talented team to continue to lead the force."

She said: "Following my recent secondment to the College of Policing where I have had the privilege to successfully lead the national Strategic Command Course, I have decided that it is the right time for both me and the force that I retire.

West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson with West Yorkshire Chief Constable Dee Collins
West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson with West Yorkshire Chief Constable Dee Collins

"I will always love policing and it has been an honour to serve our communities, most recently as Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police.

“I believe that West Yorkshire Police is an excellent force and I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to lead the dedicated officers, staff and volunteers who work for us and the support I have generously been given by the public and the Police and Crime Commissioner."

And Ms Collins added: "I have very mixed emotions about retiring as I have loved my job, loved serving our communities and loved working with so many fantastic people. I have tried to encourage an understanding of the very human aspects of policing, with a culture that truly cares about our communities, given the very real challenges that all of the public sector are facing at the moment."

Prior to joining West Yorkshire Police Ms Collins served for more than six years as an Assistant Chief Constable for Derbyshire Constabulary.

In 2013 she was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal and in 2018 she was awarded a CBE for her services to policing and women in policing.

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