The new Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police said she has an 'emotional position' to the city as she started her new role with the force. Kate Meynell shared her ambitions for the force to become an 'outstanding police service' in a first interview with Nottinghamshire Live after her appointment.
Ms Meynell became the new Chief Constable on Monday, December 12, after Craig Guildford transferred to West Midlands Police in the same role. CC Meynell originates from Nottingham and joined Nottinghamshire Police in 1993, where she was posted to Bulwell. For the first few years she also worked across Hucknall and Eastwood in uniform roles before joining CID, undertaking investigation roles in the Child Abuse Investigation Unit, Divisional CID and Homicide Team.
She said: "I have an emotional position to Nottingham because this is where I am from. I have started in Nottinghamshire.
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"First and foremost, Nottinghamshire Police has really improved over the last few years and we should recognise that. My vision now is that we can move on and we can become an outstanding police service."
CC Meynell progressed through the ranks in both uniformed and detective roles. In 2011 she was part of the new collaboration of the five forces of the East Midlands for major crime investigations.
Nottinghamshire's Police and Crime Commissioner Caroline Henry said 'we need more women in the public service' after Kate Meynell's appointment. The PCC is responsible for recruiting the Chief Constable and holding her to account. Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live during her first public appearance with CC Meynell, PCC Henry said she believed women were better suited to the role, adding: "We need more women working in the public service. We do not faff around. We get the work done."
She also talked about her plans for tackling crime in Nottinghamshire, before meeting members of the community during Walkabout Wednesdays, which are held once a month in various towns across the county. "We want to make sure that Nottingham is a safe city, and it is also known for being a safe city."
She added: "It is my job to pick the Chief Constable. And this is one of the most important things that I have to do in my role."
In 2015, CC Meynell became Head of East Midlands Special Operations Unit (EMSOU) Major Crime and was responsible for overseeing major crime investigations across the region. She has performed the role of Senior Investigating Officer on a number of homicide investigations, including the investigation into a fatal house fire, where the six Philpott children were killed, resulting in the conviction of both their parents and a family friend of their manslaughter.
She also investigated the murder of Kayleigh Haywood, who was killed after meeting a man who groomed her online, among other high-profile cases. In 2017, she transferred to Northamptonshire Police to the role of Chief Superintendent, Head of Crime. While there, she was responsible for CID, Public Protection, Intelligence and Serious and Organised Crime.
She returned to Nottinghamshire Police in 2018 as Assistant Chief Constable and led the force’s strategic response to the Covid-19 pandemic. She moved to Derbyshire Police as Deputy Chief Constable on January 11, 2021.
"I am originally from Nottingham. I have spent most of my life in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire and I have also spent most of my career in Nottinghamshire Police. I feel a real attachment to the area. I really care about what happens. I know about the history of what has happened in the area, and I think that experience will help me in my role with Nottinghamshire Police."
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