Alex Franklin-Smith has been named as the preferred candidate to become the next Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police, by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Philip Seccombe.

Currently the Deputy Chief Constable of the Warwickshire force, DCC Franklin-Smith has been serving as interim Chief Constable since September 2024, following the retirement of Debbie Tedds.

DCC Franklin-Smith said: "I am delighted to be selected as the preferred candidate to be the Chief Constable of Warwickshire Police. 

"I am absolutely committed to serving the public of Warwickshire to the best of my ability and it has been my privilege to serve as interim Chief Constable since September. Warwickshire is a fantastic county that deserves to have a police force that works for everyone, especially victims of crime.  

"It is an honour and a privilege to lead the many police officers, staff and volunteers who work incredibly hard to protect our communities. Policing is a challenging profession but an incredibly rewarding one too. 

"To succeed, we must have the trust and confidence of the public and we must have the support of the many important partners who we work closely with to deliver the best policing services possible.

"Over the coming weeks and months, I want to continue to be visible and active within the force and our communities, listening carefully to what people have to say about policing in the county. 

"In 2025, we will be building a new policing plan for the force, and I will ensure that our many partners and the public of Warwickshire are able to directly inform and influence our future".

Under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, the PCC is responsible for appointing Chief Constables.

Following this announcement, the PCC has officially notified the Police and Crime Panel of his preferred candidate. The panel is required to review the appointment within three weeks and hold a public confirmation hearing, expected to take place on 16 December.

During the confirmation hearing, the panel will have the opportunity to scrutinise the appointment and provide its recommendation. While the panel has the authority to veto the PCC's decision, this would require a two-thirds majority vote.

If the panel confirms the appointment, the PCC will proceed to finalise the decision, enabling the new Chief Constable to formally take up the role.