North Wales Police Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman, one of Britain’s most senior women in policing, is set to momentarily step down from her post in a move that’s raising eyebrows, sparking debate, and shining a light on the peculiarities of police pension rules. But don’t expect any major shake-ups—she’ll be gone for just a single day before returning to the helm, all in a bid to safeguard her pension after nearly 34 years of service.
Ms. Blakeman, 56, who currently leads the North Wales force and serves as chairman of the British Association of Women in Policing, plans to officially retire on January 15, 2026, and then be reappointed on January 17, 2026. The one-day hiatus—January 16—will see Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison step in as acting chief constable. According to the BBC, this unusual maneuver is entirely above board, falling within the guidelines of the national Retire and Rehire Scheme, which has been adopted by police forces across the UK to retain experienced leaders while navigating the quirks of legacy pension systems.
The heart of the matter lies in the structure of certain older police pension schemes. As reported by The Daily Mail, these schemes mature after 30 years of service, but for every additional year of continuous service, the value of the pension actually decreases. It’s a quirk that has prompted the creation of the national Retire and Rehire Scheme, designed to freeze an officer’s pension at its maximum value while allowing them to continue serving in their role. The scheme requires a formal break in service—hence, Ms. Blakeman’s planned 24-hour retirement.
For the 2023-2024 financial year, Ms. Blakeman’s salary was £169,598, according to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner North Wales. Yet, as she approaches her 34th year of policing—and after four years as Chief Constable—the pension issue has become impossible to ignore. “Leading North Wales Police has been the greatest privilege of my career, but after nearly 34 years of service and four years as Chief Constable, I’ve reached the point where retirement is an option,” Ms. Blakeman explained in a statement quoted by The Daily Mail. “After careful thought, I have decided to seek to continue in post. To achieve this aim, I have made a request to the Police and Crime Commissioner to retire and return under the national Retire and Rehire Scheme, which allows experienced officers to continue in their roles.”
Ms. Blakeman’s plan has already secured the support of Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin, who emphasized both the legitimacy and the necessity of the scheme. “I have agreed to put forward Chief Constable Blakeman’s request to enter into the national Retire and Rehire Scheme,” Dunbobbin stated, as cited by the BBC. “The widely-used scheme is in accordance with updated guidance from the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, and the College of Policing. It is important to emphasise that this will come at no cost to the taxpayer and there will be no break in leadership at the head of North Wales Police.”
The final green light now rests with the Police and Crime Panel, which is set to consider the proposal on December 15, 2025. If approved, Ms. Blakeman will resume her post on January 17, 2026, and is expected to serve until January 2029. During her brief absence, Deputy Chief Constable Harrison will keep the ship steady, ensuring no disruption to day-to-day operations—a point repeatedly stressed by both the Commissioner and the force’s leadership.
This is not the first time the Retire and Rehire Scheme has been used by senior police officers facing pension dilemmas. The BBC notes that last year, West Midlands Police Chief Constable Craig Guildford retired for a month before returning to his role under the same scheme. More recently, Northumbria Police Chief Constable Vanessa Jardine briefly retired before being reinstated. These cases highlight a growing trend among senior officers seeking to balance long service with the financial realities of outdated pension rules.
Ms. Blakeman’s decision has also drawn support from within the force. “I am heartened that my bid to continue as Chief Constable is fully supported by the North Wales Police Federation, who recognise the significant progress the force has made in recent years,” she said. “They have also referenced the importance of stability and continuity for our workforce and the communities we serve. NW Federation members have also made it clear that they feel valued and supported in key areas that directly impact operational effectiveness.”
The Retire and Rehire Scheme, as outlined in documents from the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, is designed to ensure that experienced officers can formally resign and be reappointed to the same rank after a mandatory break in service. This process, according to Ms. Blakeman, “does not create any additional cost to the taxpayer.” It also ensures that pension entitlements—such as lump sum and monthly payments—are protected, without the risk of abatement due to continued service beyond the 30-year threshold.
Ms. Blakeman’s career has been marked by several notable achievements. In 2023, she became the first woman to lead North Wales Police in the force’s 48-year history, a milestone recognized by both local and national policing bodies. Her contributions to policing have also been honored with the King’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, underscoring her impact and dedication to public safety.
The wider context of Ms. Blakeman’s planned retirement and return is one of mounting scrutiny over public sector pensions and the retention of experienced leaders in vital roles. While critics might question the optics of a one-day retirement, supporters argue that the scheme is a pragmatic response to an outdated pension system that could otherwise push skilled officers into premature retirement. As the BBC and Daily Mail both highlight, the scheme has been widely adopted and is seen as a way to maintain stability in police leadership without imposing additional costs on taxpayers.
Police and Crime Commissioner Dunbobbin was keen to reassure the public that neither leadership nor operational effectiveness would be compromised. “Chief Constable Blakeman and I, alongside all the chief officers of North Wales Police, remain as committed as ever to ensuring that our region is the safest and most secure place in the United Kingdom,” he said.
For Ms. Blakeman, the motivation is clear: to continue serving her community while ensuring her hard-earned pension remains intact. “If approved, I will retire on 15 January and return on 17 January, continuing as Chief Constable until January 2029,” she explained. The process, she emphasized, is not about personal gain but about enabling experienced officers to keep doing what they do best—leading, protecting, and serving the public.
As the Police and Crime Panel prepares to make its decision, the case of Amanda Blakeman stands as a testament to both the complexities of public sector pensions and the lengths to which dedicated leaders will go to continue their service. Sometimes, it seems, the path to stability and continuity in policing really does run through the most unexpected of detours—a single day’s retirement.
