Nottinghamshire Police has announced its new leader as the force seeks to recover from a challenging period. The organisation was placed under enhanced monitoring by the independent inspectorate following an assessment completed in 2024, and it is presently undergoing examination at the public inquiry examining the Nottingham attacks. In October 2025, it was announced that Chief Constable Kate Meynell would be stepping down after receiving a cancer diagnosis, with her final official appearance being her testimony before the Nottingham Inquiry. Nottinghamshire’s elected Police and Crime Commissioner Gary Godden, who holds the authority to appoint and dismiss the chief constable, has now named Steve Cooper as Ms Meynell’s successor. Ms Meynell has encountered censure from the relatives of those who perished in the Nottingham attacks, and the police inspectorate has yet to receive crucial witness statements from her concerning its investigations into Nottinghamshire Police. In her testimony to the Nottingham Inquiry, the former chief constable acknowledged that it had been an error to submit a complaint about the Nottingham Post to the press regulator following our coverage of being required to sign a non-disclosure agreement at a briefing she conducted. Significant evidence presented at the Nottingham Inquiry concerning Nottinghamshire Police’s shortcomings in relation to the Nottingham attacks of June 2023 has included assertions that the city was left defenceless that morning, uncertainty regarding the force’s counter-terrorism procedures, and a critical chance being lost to locate Calocane between his initial two murders and his final one. Mr Cooper has held the position of Acting Chief Constable for approximately a year, and Mr Godden has stated that they share a resolve to sustain the improvements already implemented at the force, which was removed from enhanced monitoring in May 2025. Announcing the appointment on Thursday, Mr Godden stated that he believes Mr Cooper possesses the appropriate values, capabilities and background to guide Nottinghamshire Police towards becoming an exemplary force in the coming years. He noted that having collaborated closely with Steve since taking up the role of Police and Crime Commissioner, he is aware that Mr Cooper shares his commitment to prioritising communities and victims, enhancing collaborative efforts and guaranteeing that Nottinghamshire Police delivers a streamlined and productive service addressing the requirements of all diverse communities across both city and county areas. He acknowledged that the force had experienced a troubled period but expressed their commitment to building upon recent progress and persistently enhancing the service provided to Nottinghamshire residents. Chief Constable Cooper began his career with the Metropolitan Police before moving to Nottinghamshire in 2001. He commented that having served with and resided in Nottinghamshire for more than 25 years, he considers it an excellent force with an excellent team and looks forward to progressing the ongoing work to maintain the safety of Nottinghamshire residents. Chief Constable Cooper’s appointment was formalised following a sitting of Nottinghamshire’s police and crime panel on Monday, during which he faced questions from county and city councillors. Councillor John Willmott from Ashfield District Council described the session as comprehensive and expressed that residents could take comfort in Mr Cooper’s leadership. Chief Constable Cooper outlined his strategy for rebuilding public confidence, explaining that establishing such trust necessitates demonstrating meaningful enhancements to communities and ensuring individuals feel able to come forward with any concerns or complaints. He noted that confidence can be significantly harmed by events occurring on a broader scale, but can only be reconstructed through the direct engagement of local officers operating within their communities.