Cumbia has a new chief constable

CUMBRIA has a new chief constable after members of the police, fire and crime panel opted for the preferred candidate for the role on Friday (February 27).

The decision is subject to written confirmation but, following a rigorous session of questioning from panel members in the Civic Centre in Carlisle, the chairman said they were happy with the police, fire and crime commissioner David Allen’s recommendation.

It was previously announced that his preferred candidate was Darren Martland, who since June 2025 has been the (temp) chief constable following the departure of Rob Carden.

Panel chairman councillor Tim Pickstone (Longtown, Lib Dems) said: “I am delighted to say that the panel is happy to support the commissioner’s recommendation.”

During the questions Chief Constable Martland said that the biggest challenge of his career was when he was the gold commander who was responsible for co-ordinating the response to Storm Desmond in December 2015.

Speaking after the meeting he said: “I hadn’t been long in post and the absolute enormity of Storm Desmond in terms of there was a risk to life. There was a massive damage to property.

“Usually when you deal with something in policing it’s contained to a particular area, well, Storm Desmond wasn’t. It was for the whole of the east of Cumbria, right from Carlisle, right the way down through Kendal.

“There was a massive number of people displaced. And, of course, we were still in the run up to Christmas, as well as dealing with the floods, and all the issues that brought, we had to maintain a policing service.

“So, I think the enormity of our people were burnt out, they were working round the clock. Some of them had been flooded as well.

“They were coming into work to help people but were also facing things at home. So, all in all, it was a really, really difficult challenging couple of months.”

He said he was ‘elated’ with the result and added: “I’ve been doing the job for just over six months and thoroughly enjoyed it.

“And I feel we’re making progress. There’s more to do. But yes, at this moment in time, I’m absolutely delighted.

“I don’t underestimate the challenges that lie before me, but I’m really pleased to be appointed and that the panel, the police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, have had put their confidence in me to lead, what is an excellent police force.”

Chief Constable Martland said he felt the biggest challenges facing the force was money which he felt was always going to be a challenge. He added: “Also keeping our people, making sure that they’re motivated, because they ultimately deliver the service.

“But I think the biggest challenge that, the, not just Cumbria Constabulary, but the police services face, is cybercrime, and some of the, the criminality that happens on the internet.

“In order to investigate that, we need to be specially trained and have special equipment. So, I think that’s probably one of the biggest challenges.”

He said that his favourite thing about Cumbria was that it was a beautiful place and added: “It’s 10 times the size of Merseyside. But with that, with the challenges of the size comes the opportunities that, because it’s a relatively small number of people, we can make change quickly and promptly, and we can engage and listen to communities.

“So, I think my answer to the question is very much, the best thing about Cumbria is the people.”

The PFCC said he was delighted that the panel had backed his recommendation and added: “I’m delighted. Darren was my preferred candidate, post selection process and interview, and the selection process was incredibly challenging.

“I was one of the interviewers on that process. I came away exhausted after the day itself. So, I can only imagine what Darren and the other candidate felt like on the day.

“I am really pleased that we’ve now got a substantive Chief Constable, or we will have post confirmation, and we can now take the constabulary forward and turn the dial from pure performance, which is where we were. Cumbria’s in a real good place now. It’s a high performing force.”

He said that he was the preferred candidate because he was the best on the day after going through a very strenuous and very robust selection process.

Chief Constable Martland joined Merseyside Police in September 1990 and later joined Cumbria Constabulary in June 2015 as the Assistant Chief Constable.

He returned to Cheshire police in 2017 and was appointed as the Chief Constable in 2019 before retiring from policing in April 2021 – but returned to Cumbria police as the Deputy Chief Constable in July 2023, and became the (temp) chief constable, in June 2025.

Cllr Tim Pickstone said: “After robust scrutiny of both the police, fire and crime commissioner’s recruitment process and the professional competence of Mr Martland, the panel unanimously agreed a recommendation to appoint Mr Martland to the position of Chief Constable.

“The panel was impressed with Mr Martland’s proposals for Cumbria Constabulary and his extensive policing experience – wishing him well in his new position.”