CLEVELAND Police's Chief Constable will leave the force next month as she takes up a secondment at the College of Policing.

Jacqui Cheer has accepted the three-month secondment ahead of her retirement from the Force in March 2016.

Deputy Chief Constable Iain Spittal will take on the role of temporary Chief Constable when she leaves, with assistant chief constable moving into his role as deputy, also on a temporary basis.

It was announced earlier this year that Mrs Cheer would retire in 2016 after almost 32 years’ police service and four years at Cleveland Police.

She will officially retire from policing during her attachment to the College.

She said: “The Strategic Command Course is a prestigious and highly-regarded course across policing in the UK and internationally. Some of the greatest leaders in policing have passed the course so it’s an absolute honour to be asked to return for a second year.

“After 32 years’ service I am proud to use my experiences to help to make my mark on the police service of the future. I know Cleveland Police will be well looked after by the competent and dedicated senior officers at the helm.”

The course, which runs from January to March, accepts police officers who want to become police leaders of the future.

It spans leadership and ethics, business and partnerships and professional policing skills.

Cleveland's Police and Crime Commissioner Barry Coppinger said: “(Jacqui) is an inspirational leader and has risen through the ranks to become one of the top police officers of our time, and an advocate for women in policing.

"Jacqui is leaving the Force in the safe hands of an innovative and experienced senior leadership team who I look forward to continuing to work with over the coming months.”