It is good that we are not losing our main man to Scotland Yard and his reasons for not moving on are reassuring, too.

Firstly, he is enjoying his job. And more importantly, Sir Norman says he is allowed to get on with the job of policing here without political interference.

That was not the case for Sir Ian Blair who resigned at the end of last week after the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, told him he had lost the confidence of the Metropolitan Police Authority.

Politicians play a short game. They crave popularity and they go for whatever is flavour of the month. It is in their nature. But that is not how we want to see our police force operate. And it is not how Sir Norman polices West Yorkshire.

He recognises the public want what he calls greater "answerability". But he rightly sums that up as "Why didn't you detect my crime?" "Why aren't you putting more resources into visible patrolling?" and "What are you doing about gangs of youths who hang about outside the local shops every evening?"

Long-term strategy, not quick fixes, will better provide the answers to those questions.

Sir Norman said: "I am prepared to do anything that gives the people who pay my wages the answers to such questions. I am not prepared to set aside my professional judgement and integrity, forged over 36 years, in order to meet short-term political expediency."

It is an excellent stance. And the people of West Yorkshire would want it no other way.