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| Suffolk Police Chief Constable Simon Ash to retire | Suffolk Police Chief Constable Simon Ash to retire |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Suffolk Chief Constable Simon Ash has announced his retirement, saying it was "an appropriate time to leave". | Suffolk Chief Constable Simon Ash has announced his retirement, saying it was "an appropriate time to leave". |
| Mr Ash, who joined the force in 2007, said he had decided not to extend his contract and would depart in February. | Mr Ash, who joined the force in 2007, said he had decided not to extend his contract and would depart in February. |
| The decision comes two days after Tim Passmore was sworn in as Suffolk police and crime commissioner (PCC). | The decision comes two days after Tim Passmore was sworn in as Suffolk police and crime commissioner (PCC). |
| On Thursday, Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Colin Port said he would step down after being asked by the force's new PCC to reapply for his own job. | On Thursday, Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Colin Port said he would step down after being asked by the force's new PCC to reapply for his own job. |
| And on 16 November, it emerged that Essex Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardie had announced his intention to step down before the end of his contract. | |
| Mr Passmore, a Conservative, was elected as Suffolk's first PCC last week. | Mr Passmore, a Conservative, was elected as Suffolk's first PCC last week. |
| 'Full support' | |
| Speaking about his retirement decision, Mr Ash 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 PCC, Tim Passmore. | |
| "I will be working with Tim to support him through his first three months. | |
| "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 join the Parole Board as an independent member from February. | |
| Mr Passmore 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." |