Express & Star

Ex-West Midlands Police boss now earning £1,000 a day

Ex-West Midlands chief constable Chris Sims has taken up a top police job earning £1,000 a day, the Express & Star can reveal.

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Mr Sims, who retired in January with a pension believed to be worth around £150,000 per year, is now working as an advisor for the National Police Chiefs Council, the body for senior police officers.

He will work two days a week at a rate of £1,000 a day – worth the equivalent of £260,000 pro rata or £125 per hour based on a normal working day.

As chief constable of the country's second largest force he was paid £200,000 a year in salary and benefits and oversaw cuts of £125 million – the highest in the country which saw 1,300 officers lose their jobs.

Today the daily sum was criticised by Walsall North MP David Winnick – a member of the influential Home Affairs Select Committee.

He said: "People will be somewhat surprised that at the time of austerity when wages have been frozen in many places or increases have been minimal that someone who has been on a very high salary, and understandably so as a Chief Constable, should once he leaves his job be paid £1,000 per day to work part time.

"People, quite a number of them in my constituency and across the West Midlands, will be raising eyebrows at this figure.

"It is not unusual for public figures to be paid these amounts but whether it is right is another matter."

Mr Sims, who is also a former chief constable of Staffordshire Police, told the Express & Star he had intended to return to public service after his retirement from the West Midlands force during his last press interview.

It is understood he had wanted to succeed Wolverhampton-born Keith Bristow as the director general of the National Crime Agency but was overlooked in favour of Lynne Owens, the former chief constable of Surrey Police.

At the National Police Chiefs Council he is advising on 'specialist capabilities' including armed response and serious organised crime.

A spokesman for the organisation said: "Chris Sims is extremely well qualified to advise on important national work that aims to improve policing for the public.

"The changes will help police tackle new threats and improve the service for the public.

"Following the placing of a national advert for a Specialist Capabilities Programme Advisor Chris Sims applied, was interviewed and offered the job.

"He has been engaged as an advisor on a temporary basis to support our review of specialist capabilities, one of the five strands of reform overseen by a new Reform and Transformation Board.

"The specialist capabilities programme is funded by police forces and the Home Office.

"He will work on a part-time basis which equates to two days a week on a day rate of £1,000."

Mr Sims was contacted for comment.

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