HAMPSHIRE Constabulary could have its first female boss.

Simon Hayes, police and crime commissioner for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, has backed Olivia Pinkney as his preferred candidate to become the county’s new chief constable.

The commissioner made his decision following a rigorous recruitment process involving senior community stakeholders and partners from 18 organisations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as well as a two-day interview with two final candidates.

Ms Pinkney is currently the deputy chief constable for Sussex Police and has in the role since March 2014.

She has extensive experience of shaping and leading strategic and organisational change and has led the force’s most recent programme – Sussex Police 2020 – to meet the financial challenges to achieve £60m savings. In the role, she is key member of the chief officer team and has a strong focus on visibility and accessibility to staff and communities.

Ms Pinkney is currently chairman of Sussex local resilience forum, working with agencies and partners from across the county and was involved in the response to the Shoreham air crash last year. She is also the national children and young people lead and has spearheaded the launch of Operation Kite in Sussex to address child sexual exploitation, with the police and crime commissioner and the Home Office.

Previous to her current role, Ms Pinkney was assistant inspector of constabulary for HMIC, leading independent professional assessments of police efficiency and effectiveness for the public. In a newly-created joint post of assistant chief constable for Sussex and Surrey Police for two years, Olivia was a member of both chief officer teams and part of significant operational collaboration.

She was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the New Year Honours 2016.

Mr Hayes said his decision: “Olivia was an incredibly strong candidate and will bring a wealth of operational experience and strategic leadership to the chief constable role. I am confident that this robust recruitment process has helped me to identify the right individual to lead Hampshire Constabulary through the continued times of austerity and changing policing landscape in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”

Ms Pinkney commented on her successful application, saying: “Hampshire Constabulary is a brilliant force with great people serving all of the communities of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. I am delighted to have been selected as the preferred candidate, and it will be an honour to have the opportunity of serving alongside them.”

The commissioner will now take his preferred candidate for consideration by the police and crime panel on Friday, March 11, when the appointment is expected to be confirmed.