The first female Chief Constable in the Ministry of Defence Police's (MDP) history is Melanie Dales, who has been the force's Temporary Chief Constable since the retirement of Andy Adams in February. She has now been appointed to the role permanently. 

A former Met Commander who has also held roles in Cambridgeshire Police and worked as part of the collaborative Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Protective Services Unit, CC Dales first joined the MDP in February 2022 as Assistant Chief Constable for Nuclear and Marine.

She was appointed Deputy Chief Constable that May, becoming the first woman to hold this post since the MDP was established in 1971.

Of her appointment, CC Dales said: "I am proud to have been given this opportunity to lead the MDP because of the unique role we play in protecting the assets and infrastructure of Defence, on land and at sea.

"These are challenging times for policing, and I am particularly proud to be leading the MDP through a significant period of reform which will create a working environment and culture that is genuinely respectful, and inclusive of everyone."

The MoD Chief Operating Officer, Nina Cope, described the appointment as a "significant and exciting moment for women in Defence and policing more widely".