Police chief Bettison resigns
Sir Norman Bettison has resigned with immediate effect as Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police.
It comes after candidates bidding to be West Yorkshire's new Police and Crime Commissioner have called for him to stand down.
Sir Norman has come under fire for his role in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster. In the Commons on Monday, Shadow Transport Secretary Maria Eagle said Sir Norman attempted to "fit-up" Liverpool football fans.
Earlier this month he said he would retire on 31 March 2013 to "enable the Independent Police Complaints Commission to fully investigate allegations that have been raised about my integrity".
In a statement today, Sir Norman said: "I sought to remain in post to address those allegations. It now appears that that will take some time. The Police Authority, and some of the candidates in the forthcoming PCC elections, have made it clear that they wish me to go sooner.
"I do so, not because of any allegations about the past, but because I share the view that this has become a distraction to policing in West Yorkshire now and in the future."