A chief constable has announced his retirement after 33 years in policing.

Essex Police's Stephen Kavanagh will retire in September.

In an internal article on the force website, he wrote: “Leading this force has been the joy of my professional life. Together we have navigated the most difficult financial period policing has ever known.

"Today, I see an organisation with a sense of ambition for the future, one that is stretched but determined to do its best and one that has some remarkable people doing brave and difficult jobs.   

“To carry on our work means planning not just for the next year or two but for the next five or ten. I have been determined that my leadership of our force would never shirk the decisions that need to be made.”

He also thanked Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst for his support. Mr Hirst gave him a four-year contract extension last summer.

The force says CC Kavanagh currently has no plans for the future.

The former Met officer applied for the job of Commissioner of the UK’s largest force last year but lost out to Cressida Dick. He served with the Metropolitan Police from 1985 until taking over in Essex five years ago.

PFCC Roger Hirst said: “When Stephen leaves Essex Police they will be in a much stronger position than when he joined. I would like to thank him for his contribution and the difference he continues to make for the people of Essex.

“I would also like to thank him personally for the open and collaborative working style we have built over the past few years.”

The officer is the third chief to announce his retirement in the past two weeks. Northamptonshire chief Simon Edens will step down later this year, while North Yorkshire’s Dave Jones retired with immediate effect last week.

In November 2015 CC Kavanagh unveiled the memorial stone to fallen officer PC Ian Dibell, and told Police Oracle of the pride he takes in leading the force: