Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams today (12 October) confirmed the appointments of Chris Noble as new Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police, and Rob Barber as new Chief Fire Officer of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, after the decisions were ratified at a special meeting of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel.
Chris Noble, currently Assistant Chief Constable at Humberside, has been a police officer for over 25 years, serving in the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Police Service of Northern Ireland before moving to Humberside Police in 2017.
He has served in a number of police leadership roles, as commander for Belfast City Policing District and as the chief officer responsible for specialist crime and operations in Humberside.
He is also the NPCC lead for protests nationally and has most recently supported several police forces on how to manage and police the ongoing M25 protests.
Rob Barber, currently Staffordshire’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer, joined the service in 1997 and over the last 24 years has worked throughout the county in all operational roles.
He was the project coordinator for the fire control project, and then went on to work within the business transformation team. He became a principle officer in 2014 and went on to be appointed as Deputy Chief Fire Officer in 2016.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime, Ben Adams, said: ‘I am grateful to the Police, Fire and Crime Panel for their deliberations today and am delighted to have Rob and Chris’ appointments confirmed.
‘I’m confident Chris has the knowledge, passion and experience needed to lead Staffordshire Police during these challenging times, and will work with me in delivering policing plans to meet the constantly evolving face of crime and other threats, and protect our communities from harm.
‘As Staffordshire’s new Chief Fire Officer, Rob brings a wealth of operational and strategic experience, across all areas of the service. I’m looking forward to working together to deliver a fire and rescue plan that shapes Staffordshire Fire and Rescue for the future, providing efficient and effective services to keep the people of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent safe.
‘I’d like to pay tribute to the current Temporary Chief Constable, Emma Barnett, for all the hard work and dedication she has given to date in Staffordshire Police. In particular, I thank her for her leadership in the last few months since the former Chief Constable retired. Emma has been pivotal in ensuring the force is ready to take on whatever policing challenges the future brings.’
Mr Noble said: ‘It is a privilege to be appointed as the Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police and to take on the significant responsibilities the position brings. I am committed to serving with our staff, partners and communities and delivering a police service which everyone in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent can be proud of.
‘Having met many excellent and passionate officers and staff over the last few months, I know they value Staffordshire’s long history of being a local, creative and well-performing force. It is my clear intention to ensure that we, the staff and officers of Staffordshire Police, continue with that tradition.
‘The last 18 months have been challenging for the public, the police and other agencies but I look forward to improving our local policing service by putting communities, partnerships, and most importantly victims of crime, at the heart of everything we do.’
Mr Barber said: ‘I want to ensure that Staffordshire is one of the safest places in the country to live, work, or visit. My key priority will be to provide a first-class service to our communities across prevention, protection and response in order to deliver the highest level of safety to our communities.
‘I am fully invested in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent; I have always lived in the county and so do my family and friends. It is vitally important to me that our city and county are at the forefront of delivering a top-class fire service and I will endeavour to deliver this.’
Emma Barnett will continue to lead Staffordshire Police in this interim period until Mr Noble is able to assume the post in the coming months.
Mr Barber will take up his post following the retirement of current Chief Fire Officer Becci Bryant this month.
