Amanda Blakeman has been appointed as the new Chief Constable of North Wales Police, becoming the first woman to be appointed to the role in the force's 48-year history.

The former Deputy Chief Constable of Gwent Police will take up her new role on October 31 after her appointment was confirmed at a meeting of the North Wales Police and Crime Panel.

DCC Blakeman is set to replace former CC Carl Foulkes, who will leave the force in the middle of next month. The incoming CC was announced as the preferred candidate in early August.

DCC Blakeman started her policing career with West Mercia Police in 1992, becoming a sergeant in 2003.

She has been an SIO as part of the Force Serious and Organised Crime Unit, and in 2008 was seconded to the West Midlands Regional Intelligence Unit to develop processes around identifying Organised Crime Groups.

DCC Blakeman has also held the roles of Head of Public Protection and Head of Operational Support for West Mercia Police and Warwickshire Police.

After a period as Assistant Chief Constable for Local Policing with Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police, she was appointed as DCC for West Mercia Police in February 2017, and for Gwent Police in October 2019.

DCC Blakeman also has a Bachelors degree in Science with Honours in Crime and Criminology.