A FORMER head of a police union has been appointed as the acting Police and Crime Commissioner for County Durham.

Steve White, chief executive of the Durham Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner (PCVC), will take on the role.

Earlier this month it was announced that Ron Hogg, who was first elected at Durham's Police and Crime Commissioner when the role was created in 2012, was unwell.

Councillor Lucy Hovvels, who chairs Durham's Police and Crime Panel, said: "The Police and Crime Panel has today considered a request from the Police, Crime and Victims’ Commissioner (PCVC), Ron Hogg, to appoint an acting commissioner. Legislation requires an acting commissioner to be appointed from within the PCVC’s staff. The panel has therefore appointed Steve White as acting PCVC for County Durham and Darlington.

“On behalf of the panel and the council, I would like to send Ron our best wishes.”

Mr White is a former chairman of the Police Federation and was appointed as the PCVC chief executive in 2018.