Acting chief 'preferred choice' for police top job
Cumbria Police and Crime CommissionerA police force's temporary chief constable has been named as the "preferred candidate" to take on the role permanently.
Cumbria's police, fire and crime commissioner (PFCC) David Allen said he wanted Darren Martland to lead Cumbria Police.
Martland, who was the gold commander during the force's Storm Desmond response in 2015, has been in the position on a temporary basis since June after Rob Carden left the position to return to Merseyside Police.
The police, fire and crime panel will hold a confirmatory hearing on 27 February to assess his suitability for the role and make a recommendation to the PFCC about whether the appointment should be confirmed.
Martland joined Merseyside Police in September 1990, and was previously Cheshire Police's chief constable from 2019 to 2021 until he retired.
He said one of the most challenging "leadership lessons" of his career was leading the service through the pandemic.
After a break, he returned to Cumbria Police in July 2023, having previously been responsible for coordinating the flooding response in the region during Storm Desmond.
Allen said the selection process had been rigorous.
"Cumbria is one of the safest counties in the UK. However, due to its size and geography, it comes with a distinctly unique set of challenges," he said.
"As a result, the chief constable must be innovative and dynamic."
