Northamptonshire’s Simon Edens has announced his retirement from policing.

The officer will step down after a 37-year career.

In a statement issued by the force he said: “There have been some significant changes during my time in office here, including the design and launch of a new policing model and a drive to change the overall culture of the force in areas such as wellbeing.

“We have also committed to making Wootton Hall our permanent headquarters and opened up a superb new operational facility at Kettering. 

“However, I believe the time is now right for me to hand over the reins to a new chief who will take the force forward over the next five years.

“I will miss hugely the officers, staff and volunteers who I have had the honour of leading these past three years.”

Despite the latest PEEL inspection finding the force requires improvement in two of three categories, CC Edens’s statement says he is “greatly encouraged by the recent HMICFRS report which had confirmed the ‘building blocks for more effective policing’ were now in place”.

In 2016 the inspectorate gave it two “good” ratings and only one “requires improvement”.

Police and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold said: “He has ensured that the foundations are now in place to better meet the challenging demands required of a modern police force and in turn make Northamptonshire safer.     

“His contribution to policing for the past 37 years has been outstanding, and since 2015 he has served Northamptonshire Police and the people of the county with great distinction.”

CC Edens began his career with the Royal Ulster Constabulary before moving to Cambridgeshire, West Mercia and Leicestershire prior to taking over in Northants.

He beat three other candidates to the job, in one of the most competitive chief constable recruitment rounds of recent years.

He will leave the job later this year.