Chief Constable Serena Kennedy has appointed a new Deputy Chief Constable for Merseyside Police.

Ian Critchley, who joined Merseyside Police as an Assistant Chief Constable in May 2016, has been successful in the process for the position and will start in his new role with immediate effect.

Following the appointment Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, said: "I would like to congratulate Ian on his appointment as Deputy Chief Constable. Ian Joined the force in 2016 and throughout the last five years he has shown outstanding commitment to providing the communities of Merseyside and the colleagues he has worked with.

“In the last two years Ian has had responsibility for Investigations and has led the relentless targeting of those involved in serious organised crime. As a result, he has personally overseen the development of Project Medusa the force response to County Lines; Operation Venetic with the arrest of more than 100 individuals in partnership with the National Crime Agency and North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, and has led improvements in the force’s approach to Protecting Vulnerable People (including domestic abuse and sexual violence).

“During his interview Ian demonstrated his understanding of both the challenges and the opportunities facing Merseyside Police, and I have every confidence that he will support me as Chief Constable, and the force, in continuing to provide an excellent quality of service -putting our communities first.”

Ian began his career at the age of 22 in Lancashire Constabulary. It was for his tireless work in developing the force approach to protecting vulnerable people and tackling child sexual exploitation that he was awarded the Queens Police Medal in 2016. Ian is passionate about preventing crimes that have a lifelong impact on victims and has recently been announced as the new NPCC lead for Child Protection, Abuse and Investigation.

Following his appointment, Ian, who is married with three daughters, said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as the new Deputy Chief Constable for Merseyside Police, it’s a huge honour and I look forward to working with the Chief Constable and our brilliant staff to serve and protect all Merseyside Communities.

“Merseyside is a fantastic region and throughout the last five years I have had the immense pleasure of working with some fantastic officers, staff and partners from across the force area, who are all committed to keeping our communities safe. Colleagues across the force and from all the staff networks have provided me with huge advice and guidance over the last five years, and in the coming months I will continue to work alongside and listen to officers and staff to ensure they help us further our commitment to developing the workplace approach to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. This will ensure we at Merseyside Police continue to listen to and truly serve all those very different and diverse communities we serve.

“I am immensely proud of Merseyside Police particularly with all we have managed to achieve in the last 12 months, despite the challenges of the COVID pandemic. I am looking forward to working alongside Chief Constable Serena Kennedy, and fellow Chief Officers, as we work to further build on the foundations of our preventative policing approach.

“I have a real passion for protecting vulnerable people and communities and a relentless approach to targeting offenders who commit the most harm and in our society and I will continue to ensure that we put our communities first in everything we do.

“I am the chair of the Strategic Domestic Violence Group and have introduced a new vulnerability partnership across the region with senior partners to support victims who need our help. And as part of the protecting vulnerable people portfolio, I am working also with officers and partners from across the county to see how we can better protect women and girls from serious violence.”

He added: “In the last year we have continue to make some real inroads into tackling serious organised crime. We are proud but not complacent of our HMICFRS grading as outstanding in this area . Through the national Operation Venetic we have identified and charged more than 80 offenders involved in serious organised crime. Whilst Project Medusa, which is the force response to County Lines, has resulted in the closure of more than 200 County Lines and the safeguarding of over 250 vulnerable children and adults exploited by the cowards who use them for their own greed . We have also seen the number of firearms discharges reduced to the lowest number in 20 years. We have also seized almost £4 million in Proceeds of Crime, and we continue to invest in our approach to economic crime, fraud and corruption. All of this has a significant, positive impact on the safety of our communities and we will continue to be relentless in our pursuit of those who cause most harm on our streets.”

In his spare time Ian enjoys running and has participated in many marathons, triathlons and Ultra marathons including a 100km run in the Peak District. He regularly takes part in fundraising runs for charities including supporting his father's Oesophagus cancer support group in Preston; MIND; the Children’s Society and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.