West Yorkshire police chief dies

Mr Cramphorn was Northern Ireland deputy chief constable until 2002

West Yorkshire's former chief constable has died after a two-year battle against cancer, the force has said.

Colin Cramphorn, 50, retired this month after four years in the post. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2004.

In September, the former Northern Ireland deputy chief constable announced he planned to retire after "four challenging and rewarding years".

Acting Chief Constable Julia Hodson said: "The force is deeply saddened by the news of Colin's death."

Mr Cramphorn died on Thursday morning and funeral arrangements have not yet been announced, the force said in a statement. He leaves a wife and two sons.

Paying tribute to Mr Cramphorn, Ms Hodson said: "At times such as this the police service comes together as a family and mourns their loss.

"Colin's compassion and care for others, whatever their role, earned him respect and affection.

Colin will be remembered as a man of great integrity and friend to all who got to know him Mark Burns-Williamson, police authority chairman

"The way in which he bore his own illness, whilst leading the force through challenging times, is an inspiration to us all. Our thoughts are with his family."

Mr Cramphorn's time in office coincided with the murders of two of his officers, Pcs Ian Broadhurst and Sharon Beshenivksy, who were both shot in the line of duty.

He was also at the helm when the force was drawn into the investigation into the 7 July bombings in London because of the bombers' links with West Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire Police Authority chairman Mark Burns-Williamson said Mr Cramphorn had shown true leadership and determination during some of the county's most difficult times over the last four years.

Lasting legacy

"On behalf of the members and staff of West Yorkshire Police Authority, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy and thoughts to Colin's family.

"I count myself amongst the very many friends Colin made in West Yorkshire and this is a deep personal loss, as well as a loss to the police service locally and nationally. "

He said a recent national police assessment, which showed West Yorkshire Police to be among the best-performing and most improved in the country, was "one of Mr Cramphorn's lasting legacies to the county".

He said the chief constable had also made a unique contribution to national counter-terrorism through his work with the Association of Chief Police Officers.

"However, more than anything else, Colin will be remembered as a man of great integrity and friend to all who got to know him," Mr Burns-Williamson added.