(subject to being ratified by the Police, Fire & Crime Panel)
Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams today (Friday 16 October) announced David Gardner as the new Chief Constable of Staffordshire Police.
The appointment of Mr Gardner, who is currently the Acting Chief Constable at Warwickshire Police, will now need to be ratified by the Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Panel at the earliest opportunity.
The rigorous recruitment process involved a stakeholder panel interview made up of staff members, staff associations, external partners and a member of the local community. This was followed by a formal interview with representatives from the College of Policing, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and Staffordshire County Council.
Staffordshire Commissioner for Police, Fire & Rescue and Crime Mr Adams said: “After a rigorous recruitment process, I am pleased to confirm David Gardner as my preferred candidate for the role of Staffordshire Chief Constable.
“He brings the strategic insight, vision and leadership needed to take the force forward, with significant reform underway across policing, community safety, health and local government. I look forward to working closely with him to deliver the priorities set out in my Police & Crime Plan, strengthen local response and neighbourhood policing and ensure Staffordshire remains a safe place to live, work and visit.”
Mr Gardner joins from Warwickshire Police, where he has held the role of Acting Chief Constable since April 2026. He has worked in roles across Local Policing and Protective Services, and has also worked nationally on secondments to the Home Office and National Crime Agency. He is an experienced Firearms and Public Order Commander and has led significant change programmes within Warwickshire Police, including the recent modernisation of the force’s digital capabilities.
The Commissioner would like to thank Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs for leading the force since August 2025.