Deputy Commissioner of Police Paul Wright is to retire next month, he announced yesterday.

Mr Wright said that new commissioner Stephen Corbishley had “energised the senior leadership team as well as the rank and file of the service”.

He added: “It is with this optimism in mind that I feel confident that the time has come for me to retire.

“I have had a stimulating and diverse policing career spanning 40 years, 34 of which have been with the men and women of the Bermuda Police Service, of whom I am so proud.”

Mr Wright has worked in many areas during his career on the island, including community policing, criminal investigations, Special Branch, intelligence and serious crime.

He has been either Assistant or Deputy Commissioner for the past seven years. Mr Wright began his career with Humberside Police in the North East of England in 1979 and moved to Bermuda six years later.

Mr Corbishley said: “Deputy Commissioner Wright has given 40 years of his life to policing.

“He has shown exceptional leadership during times of unprecedented violence, economic challenge and constant change.

“Indeed, he has been at the forefront in developing a new community policing model for Bermuda that will be introduced over the coming months.

“He will be greatly missed by colleagues in the police and within other government departments.”

Mr Corbishley added: “On a personal level, Mr Wright has been extremely supportive to me in my first months as police commissioner, enabling me to understand the needs of our officers and staff and most importantly the public service wanted by our local communities.

“I wish him the very best of luck as he retires as an exceptional police officer.”

Mr Wright’s retirement will leave a gap in the top management of the police.

The two assistant commissioners are Antoine Daniels, who joined the service in 1984, and Martin Weekes, who joined in 1988 after 11 years’ service with Kent Constabulary in England.

If one of the two is promoted to deputy commissioner, the next ranking officers, all superintendents, are Sean Field-Lament, James Howard and Darrin Simons, who would be available to fill the vacant assistant’s role.