The deputy chief constable of a Welsh police force mired in controversy has been given the top job at North Wales Police. Amanda Blakeman will start in the role of chief constable on October 31 and will be the first woman to hold the top job in the force's 48-year history. Ms Blakeman was previously the deputy chief constable at Gwent Police which has recently face criticism for its handling of the gross misconduct case of three of its senior officers.
Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin presented a report detailing the appointment process of the new chief constable and a panel confirmed the appointment of Ms Blakeman as the new chief constable following current chief Carl Foulkes announcing in May he would be retiring this October.
According to the report Ms Blakeman was made the preferred candidate after "a considerable and long-standing career of over 30 years in policing'" with a "proven operational and strategic background in West Mercia and Gwent Police".
