Following a challenging two-day interview process, Lisa Winward has been appointed as North Yorkshire’s new Chief Constable.
The former Deputy Chief Constable will begin her new role on Friday (August 17).
Julia Mulligan, elected Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, said: “Lisa has the leadership, skills and experience to drive forward local policing in North Yorkshire and ensure the county’s residents are safe and feel safe.”
So here are a few facts about our new police chief.
1. She began her career in York
Lisa Winward started her police career in 1993 when she was appointed a Special Constable in York. Since then she has served as a regular officer for Humberside Police as well as serving as York Commander between 2009 and 2013. In 2017, Ms Winward was appointed as Deputy Chief Constable for North Yorkshire Police.
2. She trained with the FBI
In 2011 Ms Winward jetted off to America to complete a ten week, FBI-funded leadership training course at the National FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. She was one of 34 international students who took part. The course involved completing a number of modules in leadership, international policing and child victims.
3. She is fighting for gender equality
North Yorkshire Police came under criticism in March after it was revealed that the police gender pay gap in Yorkshire was 20.8 per cent. In response Ms Winward stated that she would do her best to help overcome these issues and encourage woman to run for significant roles inside the force. She told the Darlington and Stockton Times: “We’re going to do a lot more work to understand what really sits behind our gender pay gap figures, so we can make changes where we need to.”
4. She spearheaded the force’s campaign against misogyny
In May 2017, Ms Winward launched the force’s move to recognise misogyny as a hate crime – only the second UK force to do so. This was backed by a video showing how women at York St John University were affected by misogynystic behaviour. Ms Winward believes that if misogyny became a nationally recognised hate crime it might change the sentences of the perpetrators. She said: “Racism wasn’t seen as a crime years ago and now it’s seen as inciting racial hatred, as abusive behaviour etc. I think we’re on the same journey with women.”
5. She already knows the ropes
Lisa assumed temporary command of North Yorkshire Police on April 16 following Dave Jones’s retirement from policing after 32 years of service. This means that she has already been performing the duties of a Chief Constable for three months. Police and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan said “Lisa’s knowledge of North Yorkshire Police at every level will ensure she hits the ground running”.