The pair officially started in their new roles yesterday.

ACC Catherine Akehurst, who began her policing career with Greater Manchester in 2003, will oversee the force’s Joint Operations Unit, encompassing Roads Policing and Contact Management across Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Thames Valley.

The new ACC has moved to Hampshire from her role as Director of Business Change for the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire strategic alliance.

Meanwhile, ACC Robert France will have responsibility for Crime, Criminal Justice, Intelligence and Tasking and Development. Prior to taking this position, he had worked at Thames Valley his entire career.

He spent five years as Area Commander for Bracknell and Wokingham and his most recent position of Head of Governance and Service Improvements saw him leading on force performance, business planning, change and organisational development.

Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney said: "I am very pleased to welcome Catherine and Robert to Hampshire Constabulary as new Assistant Chief Constables.

"Both have a wealth of experience in a variety of areas of policing and I am delighted that they will now bring those expertise to Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”