The "preferred candidate" to become the new chief constable of North Yorkshire Police has been named as Tim Forber, current deputy chief constable at the South Yorkshire force.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for York and North Yorkshire, Zoë Metcalfe made the announcement following a recruitment process on Monday and Tuesday.

It involved a presentation to internal and external stakeholders, a media exercise and a panel interview with the county's chief fire officer, a representative from His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Service, a director from the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, an independent panel member and Ms Metcalfe.

Mr Forber joined South Yorkshire Police as assistant chief constable in December 2016 and was promoted to deputy chief constable in June 2021.

Darlington and Stockton Times: Tim Forber is to be put forward as the preferred candidate to become Chief Constable of North

Ms Metcalfe will now put her preferred candidate to the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel on January 11.

“I am delighted to name Tim Forber as my preferred candidate for York and North Yorkshire’s new chief constable," she said.

“His depth of experience and commitment to collaboration and local neighbourhood policing across rural and urban areas was clear from the interview process and I am delighted to be able to put him forward to the Police, Fire and Crime Panel.

“I have every confidence he has the right qualities to drive forward North Yorkshire Police to be an outstanding service and to keep people safe and feeling safe.”

Mr Forber said: “I am hugely honoured to be selected as the preferred candidate to be the next chief constable of North Yorkshire Police. I am looking forward to working tirelessly on behalf of the communities of York and North Yorkshire to ensure they have an outstanding police service.”