Police chief puts retirement on hold to help Leeds communities fight the coronavirus crisis.

West Yorkshire Police's chief superintendant will curtail his retirement plans after 30 years of service as the city is gripped by a coronavirus lockdown.
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Steve Cotter, based at Elland Road Police Station, joined the force in 1990 and had planned to retire this week with the intention to take a well-earned rest and enjoy more time with his family.

But he has put those plans on hold temporarily to take up a short-term role with Leeds City Council as part of its response to the current Coronavirus situation.

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He said: "The current situation with coronavirus is completely unprecedented and has brought some real challenges for the police and our partner agencies and I will continue to play a part in the city’s response to the crisis through this new short-term role with the council.

Ch Supt Steve Cotter outside Elland Road police station.Ch Supt Steve Cotter outside Elland Road police station.
Ch Supt Steve Cotter outside Elland Road police station.

“Like everyone, I hope this unsettling period in our lives will be over as soon as it can be and that we all continue to stay safe and do everything we can to reduce the impact on the NHS and help to save lives in the meantime.”

Ch Supt Cotter joined the police force 30 years ago and spent the majority of his police service in uniform operational roles and worked in Calderdale, Bradford, headquarters in Wakefield, Kirklees and latterly in Leeds.

In 2007 he was promoted to the rank of superintendent and led the county-wide introduction of neighbourhood policing. In 2011 he moved to what was then the North East Counter Terrorism Unit where he led on work as part of the Prevent strategy before being seconded to the Association of Chief Police Officers Terrorism and Allied Matters in London where he led Prevent work nationally.

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He returned to West Yorkshire Police in 2014 to lead the Force’s Programme of Change project, which looked at how best to make savings and focus resources in response to public expenditure austerity measures.

A picture taken in 2018 to mark a partnership approach to the management of the managed approach in Holbeck featuring Leeds city councillor, Debra Coupa, Ch Supt Cotter, Gemma Scire of Basis Yorkshire and Paul Money, Mr Cotter's predecessor and of the Safer Leeds Community Partnership.A picture taken in 2018 to mark a partnership approach to the management of the managed approach in Holbeck featuring Leeds city councillor, Debra Coupa, Ch Supt Cotter, Gemma Scire of Basis Yorkshire and Paul Money, Mr Cotter's predecessor and of the Safer Leeds Community Partnership.
A picture taken in 2018 to mark a partnership approach to the management of the managed approach in Holbeck featuring Leeds city councillor, Debra Coupa, Ch Supt Cotter, Gemma Scire of Basis Yorkshire and Paul Money, Mr Cotter's predecessor and of the Safer Leeds Community Partnership.

In 2015, he became Kirklees District Commander and played a key role in partnership work to reassure local communities in the aftermath of the murder of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox in 2016, as well as overseeing innovative work to tackle gang crime.

He became district commander for Leeds in July 2018, taking over from Ch Supt Paul Money.

As well as continuing the work of his predecessor, Ch Supt Cotter has been a big advocate of a partnership response to tackling crime in Leeds, looking at the reasons why people do it and trying to address those.

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He said: “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to build on the achievements of my predecessor during my time here in Leeds, continuing to develop our work alongside our partner agencies to protect the vulnerable, reduce crime and reassure the public that we serve.

"We often talk about partnership work but Leeds is truly somewhere where there is a very clear recognition that we can only properly address the issues that cause harm and risk to people by combining and co-ordinating the efforts of a whole range of agencies."

He paid tribute to his colleagues throughout the force - and made reference to the immense pressure police forces are under.

Ch Supt Cotter added: "It has been an immense privilege to work with so many talented colleagues here in Leeds and across West Yorkshire as part of our ongoing efforts to keep our communities safe.

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"Policing has continued to face really significant pressures over the last few years, both in terms of the volume and the complexity of the demands place on its limited resources, but I have been made very proud by the work I see from officers and staff every day that demonstrates their commitment to keeping people safe."

Chief Superintendent Damien Miller takes up the role of Leeds District Commander this week from his previous role as Head of Corporate Services.

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