10/08/2026
Clive Hammond
The force today confirmed Chief Constable Mark Roberts QPM would be retiring, bringing to an end his 33-year career in policing.
CC Roberts’ association with the police saw him start as a PC in Salford, before rising through the ranks and joining Cheshire Constabulary in 2014.
Reflecting on his career, CC Roberts said policing was a “vocation and privilege” and that he was “immensely proud of everything” that he achieved during his four decades.
He continued: “I have worked alongside some truly dedicated and focused colleagues who strive every day to provide the best possible service to the public. I had hoped to take the force through to 2028, but the decision has been made to take the force in a different direction.
“Cheshire is a force very much at the top of its game, so this announcement does not mean that the good work stops here – far from it. What has been achieved over these past few years has been truly outstanding and I have no doubt that this will continue.
“Recently we have been ranked top in the country for crime outcome rates, and we had the highest charge/summons outcome rate in the UK for overall crime. We are the best performing force for tackling violence offences, stalking and harassment, sexual offences and burglary and have some of the highest charge rates in the country for vehicle crime and shoplifting. We also lead nationally with regards to tackling the scourge that is domestic abuse.
“This is on top of last year’s HMICFRS inspection, where we were the only Force to be graded as ‘outstanding’ in managing offenders and suspects, and one of only two forces to be graded as ‘outstanding’ for protecting vulnerable people.
“Policing provides an outstanding career and having started life on a council estate in Stretford, it has afforded me incredible experiences. As a detective I led a murder team, Northwest Counter Terrorism investigations and deployed to Bradford around the 7/7 atrocities.
“I was proud to be divisional commander of Trafford where I grew up, but as a Manchester City fan it was a difficult time to police United as they dominated football at the time.
“I was the tactical commander for the 2011 riots and found great satisfaction as Deputy Chief Constable as we turned around the future of South Yorkshire Police. However, the pinnacle of my career has been as Chief Constable of Cheshire Constabulary with an incredible workforce doing amazing work to keep the public safe. I know this fantastic work will continue as the force moves forward.”
CC Roberts began his career with Greater Manchester Police, working in both uniform and investigative roles. Throughout the following 20 years, he played an operational role in high-profile incidents and investigations and led the Northwest Counter Terrorism Unit as Head of Investigations.
When CC Roberts moved to Cheshire Constabulary, he led local policing across the county as an Assistant Chief Constable. His tenure coincided with reducing crime rates and an “outstanding” inspection from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularies and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
In 2017 CC Roberts joined South Yorkshire Police as Deputy Chief Constable, until 2021, when he rejoined Cheshire Constabulary as Chief Constable. Since 2014, he has also been the national lead for football policing and covert legislation and guidance, overseeing many football tournaments, the latest being the 2026 Fifa World Cup.