Francis Habgood has been officially appointed as Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police.

Today the Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel met to consider the Commissioner’s proposed appointment, and confirmed its support.

Mr Habgood has been in the force for 11 years and is currently the Deputy Chief Constable of Thames Valley, a post he has held since 2008.

He will start his new role from April 1.

He said: “I am honoured and privileged to have been appointed as Chief Constable for Thames Valley Police.

“I do not underestimate the challenges ahead but I look forward to building on our successes, particularly the high levels of public satisfaction and reductions in crime.”

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Police and Crime Commissioner Anthony Stansfeld admitted Mr Habgood had been the only man to apply for the job.

Mr Stansfeld said today: “I am delighted that the Police and Crime Panel supported my choice of Francis Habgood to be the next Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police. He has done an excellent job as Deputy Chief Constable and I look to forward to working with him in the future.”

Trevor Egleton, Chairman of the TVP Police Crime Panel, said: “We are pleased to ratify the appointment and are looking forward to working with the Police Crime Commissioner and the new Chief Constable.”

Mr Habgood replaces Sara Thornton, who held the position for more than a decade and is leaving to take up a role as chairwoman of the new National Police Chiefs’ Council.

He comes just weeks after the force was heavily criticised in a serious case review into Operation Bullfinch, which investigated the abuse of young girls in Oxford.