DCC Bacon’s appointment was confirmed last month and she joins South Wales Police from Northumbria Police, where she was Assistant Chief Constable.

DCC Bacon’s policing career started at Sussex Police in 1995 before moving to Northumberland in 2017. She worked as a detective for many years and was Head of Crime and Safeguarding for Sussex together with leading a number of collaborated Specialist Crime units. These included intelligence; organised crime; cyber and economic crime.

In 2017 DCC Bacon transferred to Northumbria Police as Assistant Chief Constable with responsibility for Change, Custody, Criminal Justice and Communications. She later became responsible from Crime, Safeguarding and the Regional Organised Crime Unit. As an accredited Strategic Firearms and Public Order Commander DCC Bacon has led many operations on behalf of Northumbria Police.

She is a member of the National Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Committee as the UK Police lead for Age and is passionate about creating a more diverse police service. She leads the Women’s Chief Officer Mentoring Scheme across the UK and has recently led a research project aimed at creating a more diverse executive across UK policing.

DCC said: "I am really looking forward to supporting the Chief Constable as his Deputy, whilst serving the communities of South Wales.

"I am honoured and delighted to have been given this opportunity as we take on the challenges of the future and I look forward to getting to know the officers, staff and volunteers of South Wales Police."

Chief constable Jeremy Vaughan said: "As an experienced Assistant Chief Constable in Northumbria Police, who also leads nationally for the National Police Chiefs Council on mental health, I am confident that Rachel will ensure that South Wales Police continues to strive towards being the best at understanding and responding to the needs of all of our communities.

"I am sure that in the coming weeks she will take to opportunity to get out and about to visit the force area and to meet as many members of South Wales Police’s team as possible."