PCC proposes Andy Prophet as the new Chief Constable of Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards has announced Andy Prophet as his preferred candidate to be the new Chief Constable of Hertfordshire.

Mr Prophet is currently Deputy Chief Constable in neighbouring Essex Police and is the national policing lead on tackling anti-social behaviour.

The decision follows an extensive and merit based recruitment process over the past four months after the current Chief Constable Charlie Hall announced his retirement. Mr Prophet was selected following a rigorous assessment and interview process, which involved an expert interview panel plus a workforce group made up of officers and staff.

The final appointment will be subject to a confirmation meeting of the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Panel on 19 December 2024 as is statutorily required, as well as satisfactory vetting checks.

Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards said:  

“I am delighted to have selected Andy Prophet as my preferred candidate to be Hertfordshire’s next Chief Constable.

“We had a very strong calibre of applicants for the role which is crucial to ensuring that Hertfordshire remains a safe county and the public is provided with a good              service by the Constabulary.

“Mr Prophet has already made an excellent contribution to policing in his current roles and, throughout the process, demonstrated the qualities that I was looking for in the new Chief Constable. I look forward to him bringing his expertise and leadership to Hertfordshire.

“The final stage of the process is a confirmation hearing by the Police & Crime Panel and I look forward to introducing Mr Prophet to the panel members.”

 Mr Prophet said:

“It is an honour to have been chosen by the Police and Crime Commissioner as his preferred candidate for Chief Constable of Hertfordshire.

“I have been impressed by the energy and passion of everyone I have spoken to in the Constabulary.

“I am looking forward to working alongside all the officers, staff and volunteers, building on strong relationships with our partners, and enhancing the policing we provide for communities across Hertfordshire.”

Mr Prophet will take up the Chief Constable role early in the New Year subject to vetting and confirmation by the Police and Crime Panel.

Biography

Andy Prophet is currently the Deputy Chief Constable at Essex Police. His policing career spans 28 years. Andy was proud to spend his first 10 years working as a patrol constable and then a response team and custody sergeant. Since then, Andy has held a number of leadership positions the majority of have focussed on leading geographical policing teams, working closely with partners, with the ultimate goal of preventing crime and catching criminals.

In his current role as DCC, he is responsible for overall force performance, building public trust and confidence, promoting professional standards as well as delivering strategic change and innovation. Andy is also the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC) lead for tackling anti-social behaviour. Much of his work continues to involve working collaboratively with agencies locally and nationally.