The current Regional Deputy Chief Constable for the East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) has been named as the preferred candidate to temporarily take over Nick Adderley's role as Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police.

Northamptonshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) Stephen Mold described PCC Paul Gibson as a "highly effective, widely respected chief police officer" who he was honoured to recommend.

The DCC has more than 20 years of strategic and operational policing experience having served as a head of crime, head of public protection and area commander.

Currently the Regional DCC for the East Midlands, since 2016 he has had stints as Lincolnshire's T/ACC and as the T/DCC and ACC for Derbyshire Police.

DCC Gibson, who also holds the NPCC lead for the Digital Forensics Portfolio and the Forensics Marketplace Portfolio, said: "I have a close relationship with Northamptonshire Police through my current role and if agreed by the Panel, I intend to throw myself whole-heartedly into the role of Chief Constable."

Should his appointment be confirmed on February 2 by the Police, Fire and Crime Panel (PFCP), he will lead the force from February 27 until the beginning of April when current CC Adderley returns after a break taken for the purposes of pension abatement.

PFCC Mold confirmed his intention to offer CC Adderley a contract extension in December; his reappointment was rubber-stamped last week by the PFCP.

However, DCC Gibson has been primed to temporarily take the reins so that CC Adderley can 'technically retire' on February 26 before returning just over a month later on a new two and a half year contract.

The other chief officers in Northamptonshire's command team include ACC Ivan Balhatchet - who has been the acting DCC since Simon Blatchly left on November 11 last year - and ACC Ash Tuckley, who was appointed in May 2022.