Hampshire Police and Crime Panel recommends appointment of new Chief Constable

The Hampshire Police and Crime Panel has unanimously recommended the appointment of Deputy Chief Constable Andy Marsh to the position of Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, Simon Hayes, selected Mr Marsh, the current Deputy Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary, following an interview process led by the Commissioner and involving senior representatives from organisations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as well as national figures including Sir Hugh Orde, President of the Association of Chief Police Officers and former Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and the High Sheriff of Hampshire, Hallam Mills.

As part of the role of the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel (PCP) to scrutinise the work of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), the Panel is required to hold a Confirmation Hearing to review the proposed appointment and question the proposed candidate on their suitability for the role. Based on this hearing, the PCP makes a report with their recommendation on the appointment to the PCC.

A Confirmation Hearing was held on Friday 25 January 2013 to consider Mr Marsh’s confirmation as recommended by Mr Hayes. The Hampshire Police and Crime Panel’s report has now been published today, in which the Panel unanimously approved the selection of Mr Marsh for the role. This decision has, in turn, been communicated to Mr Hayes.

Mr Marsh joined Hampshire Constabulary as Deputy Chief Constable July 2010. He started his career with Avon and Somerset Police before transferring to Wiltshire Police as an Assistant Chief Constable in 2007. He returned to his former force in 2009 before moving to Hampshire.

Chairman of the Police and Crime Panel, Councillor David Stewart, said: After a very thorough Confirmation Hearing, we were pleased to be able to unanimously agree the appointment of Mr Marsh as the next Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary.

He was able to display a high level of professional competence and personal independence and is a consistent, forward-thinking leader whose values are very much in line with the needs of the communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The Panel looks forward to working with him through the Police and Crime Commissioner, in the future.”

Simon Hayes, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, said: "I am delighted the Panel has given their unanimous support to my selection of Mr Marsh as the next Chief Constable to lead the police force serving Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. I have now formally made the appointment and Mr Marsh will begin as Chief Constable on 5 February. He was the exceptional candidate for the job, and is well placed to take the organisation forward, having started the journey by being in charge of the force change programme in his role as Deputy Chief Constable. I am keen to start working with him on delivering my priorities in partnership with our community safety and criminal justice partners."

On accepting the position, Chief Constable designate Andy Marsh said: "Hampshire Constabulary has made significant changes and proven highly effective at tackling crime, anti-social behaviour and safeguarding the public under the leadership of Alex Marshall.

"It is a real privilege to have the opportunity to continue to progress that great work, and I look forward to working with the PCC in building and developing a policing service that focuses on the needs of all those within our communities.”