Police boss quits to fight cancer

Mr Cramphorn was Northern Ireland deputy chief constable until 2002

West Yorkshire's chief constable has announced his plans to retire in the new year as he battles against cancer.

Colin Cramphorn, 50, who joined the force four years ago, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004.

He said he had decided to quit now because "in the foreseeable future it will become increasingly difficult to discharge my full responsibilities".

The post will be advertised nationally in October and an appointment made towards the end of the year.

Mr Cramphorn led the force during a time when it was rocked by the fatal shootings of two officers - Pc Ian Broadhurst on Boxing Day in 2003 and Pc Sharon Beshenivsky last November.

He has provided strength and leadership through personal adversity and some of our most testing times in recent history Mark Burns-Williamson, West Yorkshire Police Authority chairman

In a statement released by West Yorkshire Police on Thursday, Mr Cramphorn said: "I have been entirely open about my condition, which, though never curable, has been controlled by a variety of treatments to a greater or lesser extent.

"It is, however, possible to medically predict that at some stage in the foreseeable future it will become increasingly difficult to discharge my full responsibilities as Chief Constable.

"Therefore, after four challenging and rewarding years as head of West Yorkshire Police, I have decided to retire."

The chairman of West Yorkshire Police Authority Councillor Mark Burns-Williamson said: "Colin has made an outstanding contribution as Chief Constable in the last four years and has tremendous respect from those who know him closely.

"He has provided strength and leadership through personal adversity and some of our most testing times in recent history, at the same time driving through changes to make West Yorkshire one of the best performing forces in the country."