A deputy chief constable who has been a "key part" of the improvements made by Humberside Police in recent years has been selected as the preferred candidate to lead the force.

DCC Paul Anderson, who has been chief constable Lee Freeman's deputy for the last two years - and part of his executive team for four - will take the top job subject to a confirmation hearing next month.

An officer with over 30 years experience, DCC Anderson started his career in Essex before transferring to Nottinghamshire in 2008 as Superintendent.

He moved to Police Scotland six years later; first to undertake a strategic role, then to become Commander for the Tayside Division. DCC Anderson joined Humberside in 2019 as an ACC before taking up his current post.

CC Freeman will depart in August following a hugely successful stint during which he took Humberside from special measures to 'outstanding' in the eyes of HMICFRS.

The outgoing chief is confident in DCC Anderson's ability to take the force into "its next era of continuous improvement".

He said: "Paul has been both my assistant chief constable and deputy chief constable in recent years and both the public and colleagues should be reassured and confident that a current member of the executive team (who has been part of our improvements) now moves to the final stage..."

Humberside PCC Jonathan Evison shares that confidence, and praised DCC Anderson for playing "a significant part in the force’s recent success".