DCC Meynell has spent most of her policing career with Nottinghamshire - including spending two and a half years as Assistant Chief Constable which saw her leading the force’s knife crime strategy and chairing the regional strateigic response to Covid. 

She joined Nottinghamshire in 1993 and in her first few years worked across Bulwell, Hucknall and Eastwood before joining CID and undertaking roles in the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, Divisional CID and Homicide Team. 

In 2011, she was part of the East Midlands Special Operations Unit: Major Crime Unit before then becoming head of the unit in 2015. 

DCC Meynell has been the SIO in a number of homicide investigations - including that of the six Philpott children who were killed in a house fire. Their parents and a family friend were subsequently convicted of their manslaughter. 

In 2017, DCC Meynell transferred to Northamptonshire where she took up the role of Chief Superintended, Head of Crime before returning to Nottinghamshire as ACC in 2018. 

She began as DCC with Derbyshire in January 2021.

The Police and Crime Panel is due to confirm the posting on September 21 but the current Chief, Craig Guildford, will remain in post until the end of the year when he will move to West Midlands. 

Commissioner Henry said: “Craig Guildford has been an excellent Chief Constable over the last five years at Nottinghamshire Police, during which crime has fallen, officer numbers have reached their highest in over a decade and neighbourhood policing has expanded. 

“Working as a team with partner agencies and the community is central to achieving this, and Kate has shown throughout her career that she recognises the importance of this.

“Kate is an outstanding leader and I am looking forward to working closely with her.

DCC Meynell said:  “I have really enjoyed working for Derbyshire Constabulary, where I have worked alongside some excellent officers and staff, but I am excited about this new challenge and truly honoured to be put forward for the role of leading my home force.”