Hertfordshire's Chief Constable Andy Prophet has been reappointed to lead the county's police force for another five years.

The decision was approved unanimously by the cross-party Police and Crime Panel following a confirmation hearing on 27 May, after a recommendation from Hertfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Jonathan Ash-Edwards.

Mr Prophet, who has completed 30 years of pensionable service, will sign a new five-year contract committing him to continue serving as Hertfordshire's most senior police officer.

As part of historic police pension regulations, he will step away from the role for one calendar month before formally returning as Chief Constable on 14 July.

During his absence, Deputy Chief Constable Andy Mariner will take on the role of Temporary Chief Constable under established continuity arrangements.

The Police and Crime Commissioner stressed that recent Government changes to police pensions are unrelated to the timing of the reappointment and that the arrangements do not create any additional cost to taxpayers.

Mr Ash-Edwards said: "Hertfordshire Constabulary is making great progress under Andy Prophet's leadership to become an outstanding police force for our county. I am pleased that we will be retaining him as Chief Constable.

"It is not unusual for senior police officers to be reappointed after reaching 30 years of pensionable service. Nationally, this has been the case for eight Chief Constables in the last two years. Such arrangements are a quirk of historic pension regulations and do not create any additional cost to the taxpayer."

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Chief Constable Andy Prophet said he was delighted to continue leading the force. "I am pleased to be reappointed as Chief Constable for this amazing county," he said.

"Hertfordshire deserves the very best policing. The amazing people I am privileged to lead are answering the phone faster, responding to incidents more quickly, catching more criminals and solving more crime.

"That's our job, it's what the public want and deserve, and will continue to be our focus in the years to come."

Mr Prophet will officially resume his duties as Chief Constable on 14 July.