Bannister takes the reins at the national law enforcement and compliance agency following the death of its former chief executive Paul Broadbent in December 2017.

The appointment was made by the GLAA’s Board and was confirmed this week by Home Secretary Amber Rudd, with Bannister to take up his post on 16 April.

Bannister, who has public sector experience at local, regional and national level and strategic and operational leadership in safeguarding and wider public protection, was DCC at Leicestershire Police until his retirement as a police officer earlier this month.

Bannister said he was delighted to be joining the GLAA and said he was doing so with a “good understanding for the fantastic work I have seen” the authority achieve.

He added: “I have had very positive professional dealings with the GLAA in my former role as a senior police officer and feel privileged to be asked to lead the organisation forward. I knew Paul Broadbent both personally and professionally and I hope to build on the significant work and success that he helped the GLAA achieve.

“I am also looking forward to working in partnership with others to protect vulnerable workers and help bring to justice those who exploit people for their labour and commit criminality.”

The GLAA added an open recruitment process to select and confirm a permanent chief executive for GLAA will be carried out over the next six months.