THE appointment of Suzette Davenport as Gloucestershire's Chief Constable was approved at a meeting of the Police and Crime Panel ton Monday.

Ms Davenport, 50, the current Deputy Chief Constable of Northamptonshire Police was put forward as the preferred candidate of four who attended an interview board headed by the county's new Police Commissioner Martin Surl last week.

She is due to take up her new role on February 4.

"We followed the procedure set out by the College of Policing and I am delighted the Police and Crime Panel has agreed with us that Suzette is the best person for the job," said Mr Surl.

"She was the outstanding candidate in a very strong field and having met with her today, the panel has confirmed our judgement. I am looking forward to working with her to provide the best possible police service for Gloucestershire".

The panel addressed issues relating to the investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into a murder inquiry in Staffordshire in 2002. From 2005 to 2007, Ms Davenport was Assistant Chief Constable there.

"The IPCC investigation is a matter of public record and I have been completely open about it throughout the recruitment process", said Ms. Davenport.

"I made the interview board fully aware of it and, where possible, I have answered questions from the media.

"As I have said before, until the investigation is completed I am restricted in what I can say but I am confident there will be a positive outcome.

"In the meantime, I am grateful to the Police Commissioner for his support and the endorsement of the Police and Crime Panel. The whole process has restored my faith in fairness and justice and I am very much looking forward to starting my new job.

"I am very proud and excited to be coming to Gloucestershire and having met a number of my new colleagues already, I can't wait to get started."