North Yorkshire’s Chief Constable will retire next year, she announced today (Friday).
Following a policing career spanning more than 30 years, Lisa Winward will retire on 31 March 2024.
Chief Constable Winward said: “I am immensely proud to have been a police officer and public servant for 30 years, and it has been an absolute privilege and honour to serve as the Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police for over five years.
“My heartfelt appreciation goes to each and every member of our team here at North Yorkshire Police who consistently display relentless dedication and hard work to keep our communities safe and feeling safe.
“North Yorkshire is truly an amazing place full of lovely people and I can think of no better place to have served during my policing career.
“It was a very difficult decision to make but I feel that the time is right for me to retire. I will still be here for several months and look forward to saying goodbyes in person to as many people as possible who I have had the privilege to meet during my time in policing.”
She started as a volunteer Special Constable in York. Joining Humberside police, she rose from the rank of constable through to Chief Inspector.
Lisa then returned to North Yorkshire in 2008, serving York as Chief Inspector, Superintendent and Commander between 2009 and 2013.
In 2017 she was appointed Deputy Chief Constable, getting the top job in August 2018.
Distinguished service
She currently leads for the National Police Chief’s Council on Intelligence, Local Policing and Senior Assessment, and in 2022 was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished policing service.
North Yorkshire Police Commissioner Zoë Metcalfe paid this tribute to the county’s top police officer.
“On behalf of the public, and personally, I would like to thank Chief Constable Lisa Winward for her distinguished service to our communities and to North Yorkshire Police.
“Her dedication of over 30 years of public service and collaboration has shone through whilst serving as a leader here at North Yorkshire Police and I feel privileged to have spent time working alongside such a remarkable individual.
“I know all of us here in York and North Yorkshire wish Lisa well in her future plans.”
North Yorkshire Police say an announcement about the arrangements for appointing Chief Constable Winward’s successor will be made in due course.