CATCHING criminals, providing an active police presence in every neighbourhood and an excellent service are the three key priorities for the new top cop in Hampshire.

Chief Constable Alex Marshall took control at the helm of Hampshire Constabulary last Thursday, following the retirement of Paul Kernaghan.

In his first message to officers and staff in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, he outlined his plans for the short-term future and resolved to spend as much time as possible with the force's operation command units and various departments.

"I want to see how we operate, and I will listen to the views of all staff. The best ideas for improvement normally come from those delivering the service," he said.

He added: "Before the end of the year, I will be speaking to as many frontline staff and staff across the organisation as I possibly can, as well as the public, to establish the best way to take Hampshire from its current strong position to an even better position."

Chief Cons Marshall, who spend the first 20 years of his career with the Metropolitan Police before transferring to Cambridgeshire Constabulary in 2000, spent time at the Home Office as national bureaucracy adviser - visiting police forces to improve the efficiency of frontline policing.

In August 2004, he was appointed assistant chief constable at Thames Valley Police - in charge of the operational support portfolio - and managed the policing operation for the wedding of HRH Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles in Windsor.

He became acting deputy chief constable in January 2006 and was appointed as deputy chief constable in May 2007.

Since taking up his new role in Hampshire, he has spent time with officers at Southampton, the Isle of Wight, Hythe, Winchester and Andover.

He said: "I am impressed with the talent we have at this level. If we are clear about what we want to achieve, we have the leaders to get there."

Former Chief Constable Paul Kernaghan said: "I congratulate Alex Marshall on his selection to succeed me as the chief constable of Hampshire Constabulary.

"He will, in my view, be inheriting the best job in the British police service."