Chief Constable Kier Pritchard led Wiltshire through their response to the Novichok nerve agent attack in Salisbury.

He had first joined the force as a 19 year old and spent his whole career with Wiltshire.

He became Chief Constable in March 2018 just as a major incident was declared following the Salisbury Novichok nerve agent attack on Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Throughout his service he held the position of Detective in each rank and led the force response to major and serious crime between 2011-2014 as Detective Chief Superintendent.

As the Chair of the Local Resilience Forum in the county, Chief Constable Pritchard has guided partner agencies and the Force through the challenges of many major incidents, including the policing response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The opportunity to lead this force as chief has been the greatest privilege of my professional career,” CC Pritchard said.

“It really has been an honour serving the communities of Wiltshire.

“This county is very close to my heart – it is my home, it is where my family have grown up, and it is also where I followed in the footsteps of my late father in joining Wiltshire Police at the age of 19 in 1993.

“Taken together, we have provided over 60 years of continued public service.

“It has always been my intention to retire at 30 years’ service so that I can look to the next stage of my life with my family.”