The chief constable of Staffordshire Police, Chris Noble, has resigned with immediate effect ahead of a gross misconduct hearing into his conduct. The announcement came on 28 July when the Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire, Ben Adams, confirmed he had received and accepted Noble’s resignation.
Proceedings continue without the chief constable
The misconduct hearing opened on Wednesday morning but is being held in Noble’s absence and has subsequently been adjourned. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has previously said it is carrying out multiple inquiries relating to the senior officer’s behaviour.
"I can confirm that yesterday [28 July], I received Chief Constable Chris Noble's resignation, which I have accepted with immediate effect,"
Mr Adams also confirmed that Becky Riggs will remain as acting chief constable while proceedings continue. Staffordshire Police has declined to comment further because the matters are subject to ongoing misconduct processes.
Timeline of key events
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Chief constable suspended | August (previous year) |
| Further IOPC investigations opened | March |
| Resignation submitted and accepted | 28 July |
| Misconduct hearing opened and adjourned | 29 July (hearing began) |
The IOPC has said the chair of the hearing panel has directed that no further detail about the allegations can be released at this stage. It added that it is continuing to examine other matters connected to Mr Noble and that, given their sensitive nature, no additional operational information will be provided at this time.
Local impact and leadership arrangements
Mr Noble had been appointed to lead Staffordshire Police in 2021 following the retirement of his predecessor. Before that he served as assistant chief constable at Humberside Police. His resignation leaves the force to be commanded in the near term by Acting Chief Constable Becky Riggs while the misconduct process proceeds.
For the public, the immediate practical consequence is continuity under the acting chief rather than a sudden change in day-to-day policing. The Police and Crime Commissioner’s office and the force will be expected to provide assurances about operational stability, oversight and transparency as the IOPC investigations and the misconduct hearing progress.
- Resignation accepted by Staffordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Ben Adams.
- Becky Riggs to remain as acting chief constable while proceedings continue.
- IOPC investigations and the misconduct hearing remain active; additional details are restricted.
Because the hearing and IOPC enquiries remain live and subject to restrictions, there is limited publicly available information about the specific allegations. Local residents and partner agencies will be watching for further updates from the IOPC, the Police and Crime Commissioner’s office, and Staffordshire Police as the process continues.
Any future statements or decisions arising from the misconduct hearing may affect the force’s senior leadership structure. Meanwhile, policing in the county will continue under the established interim arrangements.
