Lincolnshire PCC confirms preferred candidate to replace Chris Haward – former candidate Paul Gibson
A former Lincolnshire police officer is back on the starting blocks to be the county’s new chief constable after losing out back in 2020.
Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones has nominated former Grantham police officer Paul Gibson to replace Chris Haward, who leaves the force in February.
Gibson started as a bobby on the beat in Grantham before joining CID as a detective in 2000.
He climbed the ranks to become the force’s temporary Assistant Chief Constable before gaining further experience in Derbyshire in 2018.
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Marc had previously chosen him back in September 2020 to replace Bill Skelly; however, the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel blocked the choice due to “issues relating to the probable disclosure of candidates' information”.
The move led to a three-year investigation concluding last year, with Mr Jones stating he’d been cleared due to no evidence of a criminal offence.
Paul later filled Chris Haward’s former role as deputy chief constable of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) in January 2021, supporting Northamptonshire as 'temporary Chief Constable' for two successful months last year.
Born in Lincolnshire, Mr Gibson, 50, is a proud family man with a background in genetics and a doctorate in molecular medicine.
The decision, made by Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones, awaits consideration by the Police and Crime Panel after an exhaustive recruitment process.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Gibson said, "I am thrilled and honoured to be selected as the preferred candidate.
“I very much look forward to coming home to take on the job of keeping this wonderful county safe."
He emphasised his determination to build upon Lincolnshire Police's community values and enhance public service.
“After almost two decades serving in Lincolnshire, I know the county and its people very well and have always harboured an ambition to one day lead the force.
“I am determined to see Lincolnshire Police build upon its community values and continue to deliver an improved quality of service to the public.”
Commissioner Marc Jones echoed the sentiment, stating: "I am delighted to announce Paul as my preferred candidate.
“His passion for the county and its communities shone through in the whole process.
“I have absolutely no doubt that Paul has a passion and determination to serve Lincolnshire running through his veins.”
The appointments panel was chaired by Chief Constable Andy Marsh QPM, CEO of the College of Policing.
In December, Lincolnshire Police and Crime Panel criticised Mr Jones for attacking their integrity during an investigation into his recruitment process.
A report by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) stated his actions “did not meet the threshold to be considered wilful misconduct”; however, they were not appropriate to be considered by a criminal court.
However, it said: “Having carefully reviewed the evidence, the decision-maker [investigator] concluded that Mr Jones did not always adhere to the guiding principles of fairness, openness, and merit at all times during the process, and moreover, at times, his decisions were directly in conflict with these principles.”
The Police and Crime Panel itself, however, was mainly frustrated by a series of comments made by Mr Jones in response to the investigation.
These included threats of legal action, accusations of the PCP wasting public resources, and telling the committee that “any residual confidence and trust he had in the PCP’s direction and leadership had ‘ebbed away’, and would be hard to rebuild due to the PCP’s ‘wasteful and perplexing course of action’.”
Mr Jones has previously said he was not surprised to have been “cleared of wrongdoing” and that he was “always confident I acted in the best interests of the people of Lincolnshire.”
However, he remains openly critical of elements in the report and the IOPC process.
