NORTH Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner has said she is pleased the county’s chief constable is set to resume his post.

Julia Mulligan said the senior leadership team in North Yorkshire had shown “great professionalism” in steering the force while Dave Jones was in temporary charge of South Yorkshire Police.

Mr Jones was drafted in to head up the South Yorkshire force after its Chief Constable David Crompton was suspended following the Hillsborough inquest findings.

A preferred candidate, Stephen Watson, currently the Deputy Chief Constable of Durham Police, is in line to replace Mr Crompton.

That appointment, once confirmed, is expected to free up Mr Jones to return to North Yorkshire.

Mrs Mulligan said: “While I am very happy to have played a part in ensuring South Yorkshire communities have had strong leadership in this challenging time, my first responsibility is to the public of North Yorkshire and I am pleased Dave Jones can now resume his post.

“The senior leadership team at North Yorkshire Police have shown great professionalism and ensured that we have continued our journey in making North Yorkshire Police the most responsive police service in the country.

“I thank them for their hard work and dedication and look forward to continuing to work closely with them on behalf of the North Yorkshire public.”

Mrs Mulligan added that Mr Jones’ return was “still some way off” and warned it could be a long process, given what she described as complex regulation.