Chief Constable David Whatton
David Whatton became the Chief Constable of Cheshire
Constabulary on 1st December 2008. He holds the national portfolio
for violent crime and public protection on behalf of the
Association of Chief Police Officers.
Prior to joining Cheshire Police, Mr Whatton was the Deputy
Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police.
He joined GMP from the West Midlands Police on promotion to
Assistant Chief Constable in December 2002 as Assistant Chief
Constable Resources. In April 2003 he became ACC Crime Operations.
He joined the West Midlands Police in April 1983 and served in a
variety of uniformed and detective posts, including as a Detective
Inspector on the Regional and National Crime Squad. In 1998 he was
promoted to the rank of Superintendent 'leap frogging' the rank of
Chief Inspector.
He has an M.Sc in Public Sector Management and a Postgraduate
Diploma in Criminology.
Mr Whatton is married and has three teenage children. In his
spare time he enjoys walking, climbing and spending time with his
family.
Deputy Chief Constable Helen King
Helen
started her police career with the Cheshire Constabulary in 1986,
working in uniform, CID, Personnel and
Complaints and Discipline. She served in superintending ranks as
the Divisional Commander of Halton, Head of Human Resources, and
HMIC Lead Inspector for BCU inspections and as Head of
Professional Standards.
In September 2005 she transferred to Merseyside Police as an
Assistant Chief Constable. She led the establishment of a new
Citizen Focus Portfolio, which has delivered improvements in
satisfaction and confidence in Merseyside Police. She was also
Force lead for Liverpool’s year as European Capital of Culture, as
well as chairing most of the Force’s Police Misconduct Panels.
In March 2009 she took over the Force’s Operations portfolio,
responsible for the Merseyside’s 6 policing Areas and with line
management of over 4000 police officers and staff. She has been the
Gold Commander for many events including the Grand National, Lib
Dem Party Annual Conference 2010, Mathew Street Music Festival, CT
Arrests, high-risk football matches and La Machine.
In April 2012 she returned to Cheshire Constabulary as the
Deputy Chief Constable. She is responsible for Force performance
management, governance, standards and communication. She is proud
to be working again with the Force she first joined in the area
where she lives.
She has an MA from Oxford University, having studied Philosophy,
Politics and Economics at St Anne’s College. She also has an MA in
Police Management from Manchester University. In 2003 she completed
the Strategic Command Course and a Diploma in Applied Criminology
at Cambridge University.
Between 2007 and 2012 she was national lead for ACPO for Cash in
Transit and bulk cash attacks. She is a PNAC assessor and a
Gold Firearms, CBRN and
Public Order Commander.
Assistant Chief Constable Janette McCormick
Janette joined Cheshire Constabulary on
2nd August 2010. She was previously a Chief Superintendent
with Greater Manchester Police and has wide experience of
operational policing and working with communities.
She joined Greater Manchester Police in 1989 having achieved a
degree at Nottingham University, and started her police career in
Salford and Manchester City Centre. Janette has been
responsible for a number of changes including centralisation of
communications, developing neighbourhood policing across Greater
Manchester and establishing their road policing department.
During her time with Greater Manchester Police, Janette planned
the policing of large scale events like the Commonwealth Games and
Labour Party Conference, and was Commander at Manchester United,
travelling home and abroad with the club.
Having policed areas of Manchester impacted by gangs and gun
crime, Janette is a firm believer in the role of community
advisory groups and individuals, and working with them to
identify solutions and achieve them.
Assistant Chief Constable Ruth Purdie
Ruth Purdie joined Cheshire Constabulary as Assistant Chief
Constable on 1st September 2011. Previously she was a Chief
Superintendent in North Wales.
Wrexham born Ruth worked for North Wales police for 32 years
having started her career as a police cadet.
She was the BCU
commander of Eastern Division, covering the counties of Wrexham and
Flintshire, and latterly the head of Operational Services, which
included responsibility for air support, firearms response, demand
management and custody services. Ruth is the first female officer
from North Wales to be appointed to a rank as senior as Assistant
Chief Constable.
Throughout her service, Ruth has always had a keen interest in
the training and development of staff.
She is keen to ensure that she understands the challenges staff
face in their day-to-day roles, and how as a member of
ACPO she can
support them with these.
Assistant Chief Officer - David Rattigan
David Rattigan became Assistant Chief Officer of
Cheshire at the beginning of June 2012. Previous to this he had
been the Interim Head of Shared Services, overseeing the
introduction of Multi-Force Shared Services. David’s portfolio as
ACO includes overseeing the work done on Business Improvement,
Distribution and Logistics, Estates Management, Finance and
Procurement, Fleet Services, Human Resources, Information
Technology, the Multi Force Shared Service, and Planning and
Performance.
His work as Interim Head of Shared Services, which started in
October 2011, was his first experience of working in the public
sector. David said: “I am delighted to take on the role of
Assistant Chief Officer, particularly at such a key time for the
Constabulary. “I am really looking forward to the challenge and
working with everybody over the coming years.”