South Yorkshire Police boss releases statement over investigation into Sheffield top cop

Sheffield’s District Commander, Chief Superintendent Una Jennings, has been tasked with completing a report on a collaboration project for seven police forces in the region while an internal investigation is carried out over a ‘concern’ raised about her.

South Yorkshire Police said ‘an internal concern has been raised in relation to a senior officer’ which is currently being ‘explored’ as part of the force’s ‘internal employment processes’.

Chf Sup Jennings has not been suspended.

Chief Superintendent Shelley Hemsley is standing in as Sheffield’s District Commander while the internal investigation is being carried out.

In response, South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, who is tasked with holding the police force to account, said: “Individual matters of officer or staff conduct are dealt with by the Chief Constable, not the Police and Crime Commissioner.

“Where issues relate to a senior officer, the Chief Constable ensures I am kept informed throughout the process and I do expect that any allegations will be taken seriously and dealt with appropriately and fairly and in a timely manner.”

Chf Supt Jennings took over as Sheffield’s District Commander in August after her predecessor Stuart Barton announced his retirement after over two years at the helm.

She spent the previous year as Rotherham’s District Commander before she was promoted to the top Sheffield role.

Chf Supt Jennings has been a police officer for 18 years.