Ex-Leicestershire Police chief, Simon Cole, 55, took his own life while suffering from anxiety and sleepless nights.

Ex-Leicestershire Police chief, Simon Cole, 55, took his own life while suffering from anxiety and sleepless nights.

Simon Cole (Right)

Simon Cole, 55, retired as Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police in March 2022 His wife Joanne found her husband's body in the garage of their home. Mr Cole had sought mental health support in the time leading up to his death.

The coroner, professor Catherine Mason, heard how Mr Cole's wife, Joanne, found her husband's body in the garage of their home in Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire, at about 8.30am on March 30. She called 999 and an ambulance arrived but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Mr Cole, was a police officer for 33 years.

Professor Mason recorded a conclusion of death by suicide.

She said: 'It was clear that retirement was a big step for him and he didn't keep that to himself. He acknowledged that and spoke to people about his anxieties about retirement.

'Although it troubled Mr Cole to retire, it was his decision and he'd accessed support. Mr Cole recognised the difficulty he was experiencing with this - his mood, his anxiety and his inability to sleep.

'He said he had never had any thoughts to take his own life and medical practitioners engaging with him were reassured by what he said.'

Mr Cole's family chose not to attend the inquest. Professor Mason recorded her 'sincere condolences' to the family and described Mr Cole's death as a 'huge loss'.

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details 

Leicestershire Police mourn the death of former Chief Constable Simon Cole QPM. Who retired this month aged 55.

The Rutland LPU Commander Inspector Gavin Drummond Sir Clive Loader Police and Crime Commissioner PC Joe Lloyd Oakham Police Simon Cole The Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police

2015

Leicestershire Police released sad news this evening. 

It is quite a shock, only last week I reading his reply to my email wishing him a happy retirement.

Leicestershire Police say:

It is with great sadness that Leicestershire Police announce the death of Simon Cole, aged 55, who recently retired from the force.

Simon, who had served in policing for over 30 years, was found dead at his home address in Kibworth Harcourt, Leicestershire, this morning.

This matter has been referred to the Coroner.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of Simon’s family and friends at this difficult time.

Temporary Chief Constable Rob Nixon said: “It is hard to put into words how devastating this news is for the entire force who loved and respected Simon. Our hearts go out to his family at this difficult time and we will support them as much as we can.

“We want to respect their privacy and the Coroner’s process and would ask that the public and media do so too.

“We are offering support to our staff and those who worked closely with Simon.

“I know Simon had a great impact on many of the communities of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and his death will be a great loss to many of the people he worked with.

“All we can do is pull together and mourn the loss of a greatly respected man.”

A public book of condolence will be established in the coming days via our website.

www.leics.police.uk

Simon Cole QPM grew up in Leicestershire and took up his position as Chief Constable of the force in June 2010. Having been educated in Market Bosworth, Northampton, Oadby and Colchester, Simon joined West Midlands Police on the Graduate Entry Scheme.

Simon joined Hampshire Police in 2003 as Assistant Chief Constable where he led on delivering Neighbourhood Policing. He became Deputy Chief Constable in 2008 before returning to Leicestershire as Chief.

Locally Simon represented the force on the Strategic Partnership Board, working with partners from all over the force area to reduce crime and anti-social behaviour. He had a huge impact on national policing portfolios and held a number of voluntary roles including;

Visiting Fellow of the Department of Criminology, University of Leicester

Member of the De Montfort University Faculty of Law Advisory Group

Vice President Leicestershire Guides

Vice President Leicestershire Scouts

Vice President of Police Mutual, which aims to support members of the police family

Board Member of De Montfort University (2017-2020)

Trustee of Care of Police Survivors Charity

Member, Oadby and Knighton Multi Academy Trust                                                      

He was a keen sportsman chairing the Leicestershire Police Sports and Leisure Section, Force Benevolent Fund and Police Sport UK National (PSUK) Lawn Tennis, cricket and Rugby Sections.

He was awarded a BA (Hons) in English Literature from the University of Durham, an MA in History from University College, Worcester, and a Diploma in Criminology and Policing from Cambridge University. In 2014 Simon was very proud to be awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the New Year's Honours List, and was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Arts by De Montfort University.

In 2020, Simon was awarded the Sir Robert Peel Medal by the Institute of Criminology at Cambridge University. The Sir Robert Peel Medal is awarded annually for Outstanding Leadership in Evidence Based Policing; COVID meant that it was actually presented in 2021.

Simon Cole, Chief Constable of Leicestershire and Rutland, PC Peter Icke, PCSO Eleanor Allam, Royal Visit Oakham

Left to Right

PCSO Eleanor Allam
Collar number: 6080
Rutland North

PC Peter Icke (Beacon Officer)
Collar number: 2113
Uppingham

Simon Cole took up his position as Chief Constable of Leicestershire and Rutland
in June 2010

Simon Cole, Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police is Back

Useful time yesterday with @AccCleicspolice @ACCStephMorgan @DCCLeicsPolice and @clive_loader . Today hosting @HMICgov. Good to be back.
— Simon Cole (@CCLeicsPolice) October 29, 2013

Simon Cole, Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police is Back

Simon Cole, The Chief Constable, Leicestershire Police, highlighted the key issues for policing in Rutland and outlined plans for 2013, Video

The Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police has highlighted the key issues for policing in Rutland and outlined plans for 2013.

Tory MP asks watchdog to investigate Leicester East MP Keith Vaz

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz  (Labour) with Britains Youngest Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police, Simon Cole

Tory MP asks watchdog to investigate Leicester East MP Keith Vaz

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen calls for a probe into the source of £500,000 in bank deposits linked to MP Keith Vaz in a letter to the parliamentary standards commissioner obtained by Channel 4 News. http://www.channel4.com/news/tory-mp-calls-for-vaz-to-step-down-during-fnancial-probe

"It appears Mr Vaz has a number of questions to answer," Mr Bridgen said.

In a letter to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards obtained by Channel 4 News the Tory MP requests an investigation into whether Mr Vaz lied or broke any parliamentary rules by failing to declare outside interests "given that the reported police investigation found that outside payments were indeed made".

Mr Bridgen, citing a report in today's Telegraph newspaper, also asked for the commissioner to re-open a decade-old investigation to determine whether Mr Vaz received improper payments from the billionaire Hinduja brothers, who pushed the then-Blair government to give Mr Vaz a ministerial role and lobbied for UK passports in the late 1990s. The scandal eventually led to the sacking of Peter Mandelson.

Mr Vaz was cleared of the earlier allegations of receiving illicit funds, but was forced to resign and was suspended from parliament for refusing to provide financial information to the parliamentary commissioner.

Finally, Mr Bridgen asked for an explanation as to what the commissioner knew about the police findings at the time of the earlier probe and whether it was now appropriate for Mr Vaz to resign given the sensitive nature of his current role in government. Mr Vaz chairs the home affairs select committee which holds the police to account.

Position untenable

Should the commissioner agree to investigate, Mr Bridgen said Mr Vaz's position as head of the committee is untenable.

"I feel that he cannot continue to hold his role with the Home Affairs Select Committee during an investigation and call on him to stand down," Mr Bridgen told reporters.

Scotland Yard declined to comment. According to the Telegraph, police detectives allegedly found almost £500,000 in "suspicious" funds were deposited into multiple accounts linked to Labour MP Keith Vaz in addition to his salary between 1997 and 2001,

The money was paid into a series of accounts over a period of time. The newspaper also reported that in an internal briefing document circulated within Scotland yard, detectives expressed their belief that "the level of funds received ... are of a suspicious nature."

'Nothing suspicious'

Mr Vaz denied there was anything suspicious about his banking transactions, noting the money in question related to buying and selling a family home in London and a drawdown of equity from his bank.

In a statement posted on his web site today, the Labour MP said:

"The Telegraph contacted me on Sunday about an investigation which may or may not have occurred 10 years ago. I asked them to supply me with a copy of the report but they did not have one.

"These matters relate to two parliamentary inquires which began in 1999 and concluded in 2003. My finances were discussed by every newspaper in the country for a period of three years and were the subject of extensive examination. I have had no outside interests," Mr Vaz said.

"When you sell a house and you buy a new house it is normal practice for the money to be paid into your account and the money then paid out," Mr Vaz added.

Parliamentary standards

A spokesman for Mr Vaz, contacted by Channel 4 News today, declined to comment on Mr Bridgen's intention to contact the commissioner for information.

The Telegraph report alleged that police evidence may contradict assurances Mr Vaz gave during an investigation into his finances between 2000 and 2001, which was carried out by parliament.

Scotland Yard were facing calls to hand evidence to the parliamentary commissioner for standards, which can reopen an inquiry into allegations first made a decade ago, the Telegraph said.

Furthermore, the Telegraph claimed it has seen a police document in which detectives claim to have established that £28,959 in cash was paid into an HSBC account held by Mr Vaz during a single year. The MP and his wife also held a series of other accounts at different banks that were also examined by police.

In an internal briefing document circulated within Scotland Yard, detectives expressed their belief that "the level of funds received ... are of a suspicious nature", the Telegraph reported.