THE new police and crime commissioner for Hampshire has begun his search for a chief constable.

Simon Hayes was elected as the new commissioner last month. One of his first jobs is to appoint someone to replace chief constable Alex Marshall, who will leave the force in February to become the first chief executive of the new College of Policing.

Mr Hayes hopes to name his preferred candidate by the end of January. He said: “I’m looking for a strong and charismatic leader, someone who can continually push to reduce crime, prevent reoffending, and have the ability to encourage the force and organisations in the community to do so in partnership.

“Making our communities safer is not a job solely for the police, and the new chief constable needs to build those relationships to find the right solutions for issues where we live and work.”

Hampshire will be one of the first police force areas in the country to appoint a chief constable under the new system, in which Mr Hayes will interview candidates with a panel of advisors chosen by him. Mr Hayes has selected his panel which includes Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers. He will put forward his preferred candidate to the Police and Crime Panel for a confirmation hearing, held in public. The panel can quiz the commissioner and his preferred candidate to ensure the appointment has been conducted fairly and that the person is the best choice for the people.

The chief constable will be given a minimum salary of £146,532.