Deputy Chief Constable Helen McMillan has been announced as the Acting Chief Constable for Cleveland Police after an unsuccessful round of applications to head up the troubled force.

Police and Crime Commissioner Steve Turner reopened applications for Cleveland’s next chief last week, with candidates having until 12 January to apply.

The efforts to replace the previous chief constable Richard Lewis after his move to Dyfed Powys have struggled against the back drop of PCC Turner being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

Last month Cleveland announced none of the applicants for the top job had been successful, and said today (13 December) A/CC McMillan will remain in post "until a preferred candidate is identified".

A/CC McMillan said: “I’m proud to work for Cleveland Police and proud to have been given this opportunity to lead the Force over the next few months.”

She first joined Durham Constabulary in 1990 where she became their first female Chief Officer as ACC. She moved to Northumbria Police in 2017 as the Assistant Chief Constable responsible for the serious and violent crime portfolio and has been Deputy Chief Constable at Cleveland Police since July 2020.

A/CC McMillan said: “I’m proud to work for Cleveland Police and proud to have been given this opportunity to lead the Force over the next few months.”

PCC Steve Turner said: “I welcome Helen to the role of Acting Chief Constable. Helen will have responsibility for the operational and day-to-day running of the force and has a breadth of knowledge of the challenges facing the force going forwards.”