Together for a safe, just and inclusive South Wales

Chief Constable Vaughan Retire and Rehire – Statement from the Police and Crime Commissioner

The Police and Crime Commissioner has supported the decision for Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan to continue leading South Wales Police until 2028 through the nationally recognised Retire and Rejoin Scheme.

Following the appropriate governance and decision-making process, the Commissioner is satisfied that retaining Chief Constable Vaughan’s experience, expertise and leadership is in the best interests of South Wales Police and the communities it serves. The decision provides stability and continuity at a time when policing continues to face significant challenges and reform across England and Wales.

The Retire and Rejoin Scheme is a well-established arrangement used by police forces across the country, including at chief officer level. It is recognised and supported within national policing frameworks and enables forces to retain critical leadership skills, knowledge and operational experience that might otherwise be lost through retirement. Importantly, it allows continuity in leadership without creating any additional cost to the taxpayer.

Under Chief Constable Vaughan’s leadership, South Wales Police has continued to perform strongly, with positive assessments from His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in areas including the investigation of serious and violent crime, child protection and safeguarding, organisational culture, workforce wellbeing, vetting standards, information security and anti-corruption arrangements. The force has also achieved national recognition through the award of the National Equality Standard.

As part of the Commissioner’s commitment to transparency and robust governance, the decision has been reported to the South Wales Police and Crime Panel. This has enabled the Panel to consider the rationale for the decision and exercise its scrutiny and oversight functions on behalf of the public. The Panel report ‘unanimously recommend’ that the Commissioner re-appoint Mr Jeremy Vaughan as Chief Constable for South Wales Police under the Retire and Rejoin Scheme.

The Commissioner remains committed to ensuring that all decisions relating to the governance of South Wales Police are taken lawfully, transparently and in the best interests of the communities of South Wales. The continuation of Chief Constable Vaughan’s leadership will help ensure the force remains focused on delivering an effective, accessible and trusted policing service for the people it serves.