Police Authority elects new Chairman
A new Chairman has been elected to lead the Devon and Cornwall Police Authority.
Following the authority’s Annual Meeting today, Friday, June 26, Mike Bull will take up the position after previously being Vice-Chairman of the Authority.
Mr Bull takes over from former Chairman John Smith, who had been at the helm of the authority for two years.
Mr Bull was elected by the Authority’s new member make up following local council elections earlier this month.
Mr Bull, aged 66, is a retired solicitor. His career was spent entirely in the public sector working for several local authorities as a solicitor. His last ten years prior to his retirement in 2001 were spent as Chief Executive of Mid Devon District Council. He has lived at Ash Thomas near Tiverton for 35 years. He is married to Gill and they have three daughters.
Mr Bull said: “It is a great privilege to become chairman of the authority at a challenging time and with a developing and improving organisation. And it is at a time when the Chief Constable, working closely with the authority, is leading a raft of major organisational changes – all aimed at taking the constabulary to being one of the top ten performing forces in the country by 2012. I welcome three new members who have also joined us following the June local elections.
“Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is currently a very safe place to live with the third lowest amount of crime per 1,000 population in the country, and I am committed to working with the constabulary and local people to see that this continues.
“I thank John Smith for his sterling work as chairman during the past two years, for his service to the authority over a much longer period, and for leading an authority which is buoyant and building towards a police service that the people of our region can be confident will protect them.”
Mr Bull comes to the authority at a time when public satisfaction with the Devon and Cornwall force remains high, rated second highest in the country following a Home Office survey.
Mr Bull added: “The authority currently has in place a budget plan which has seen more than 200 officers delivered back to the front line from back office jobs in the last year and had a considerable impact across the whole of our region.
“However, we do live in a particularly difficult financial climate, and our organisation is the same as many others in that we will face some serious financial challenges in the near future.
“There is likely to be a major impact on the finances of all public sector bodies in the coming years as a result of the credit crunch and its effects.
“This authority will be no exception, so I am not expecting an easy time.”
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary Chief Constable Stephen Otter has welcomed Mr Bull into his new position.
Mr Otter said: “Mike has a vast amount of experience as a member of the authority and I’m sure will continue to build on what is already a strong relationship with the constabulary.
“This year has already seen 225 officers returning to the front line which we know is having an impact on reducing crime and increasing public confidence in their local police force.
“With continued planning and close working we can make the best use of our resources and make sure our priorities are reflected by what the people of Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly want from their police service.”