A TEMPORARY chief constable of Gloucestershire Police has been announced amid uncertainty over the future of the police and fire services.

Rod Hansen, the current deputy chief constable will step up when current chief Suzette Davenport retires in April.

Police and crime commissioner Martin Surl admitted that uncertainty over the future of the fire service meant that the appointment was only temporary.

Mr Surl said: "The Government has made it abundantly clear its enthusiasm for reform and I am under clear instructions from the Home Office to examine very carefully what benefits might be achieved by combining some of the work done behind the scenes by police and fire service back-office staff.

“The Home Office is making money available to PCCs to carry out independent studies of their local fire services. "What they are considering is the possibility of fundamental change involving the governance and leadership of two of the key public services.

“As I have said many times, I have an open mind.

"However, if the research suggests change would benefit the council tax payers of Gloucestershire, the responsibilities of the chief constable in twelve months’ time could be very different to what they are today.

“I am grateful to Rod for taking over in these circumstances, not least because it ensures continuity and stability during another period of potential uncertainty”.

Mr. Hansen joined Gloucestershire Constabulary after a long career at Avon and Somerset Constabulary where he covered a variety of roles from patrol inspector in central Bristol to district commander for Bath and North East Somerset.

He said: “It is a privilege for me to be asked to take up this important role which I accept and embrace.

"The constabulary has come a long way through a period of austerity and become stronger for it. That isn’t to say that there isn’t much more to do.

“We continue to face further significant financial challenges and I shall rely heavily on the talented people I have around me.

"Without colleagues providing a 24 hour emergency service there would be no constabulary so they deserve, and will get, my very best attention."