THE officer who took the reins during a crisis engulfing Avon and Somerset Police when a Chief Constable was suspended is leaving for the top job in another force.

Deputy Chief Constable Gareth Morgan, who joined the Portishead-based constabulary in 2014, is off to Staffordshire Police, where he starts work on June 19.

He was temporary chief in Avon and Somerset for a spell while Nick Gargan was suspended ahead of his resignation.

Mr Morgan started his policing career with West Midlands Police and in 2000 was selected to attend the FBI National Academy at Quantico.

He held senior operational roles including as an area commander and as head of public protection.

In addition he led the Mergers Team for the West Midlands region and headed strategic reviews of local policing and public protection within force.

In 2011 following his attendance at the strategic command course he took up the post of chief of staff to the president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, before joining West Mercia and Warwickshire Police as assistant chief constable for local policing.

He joined Avon and Somerset Constabulary as temporary Deputy Chief Constable in October 2014.

The force has advertised for his replacement, who must be "talented and progressive" to help achieve its ambition of being "an outstanding force".