A new chief constable has stepped in at the top of Gloucestershire Police in the wake of the suspension of its former leader.

As reported here on October 9 and subsequently the next day with news that a second figure from the force's top ranks was also facing charges of misconduct, Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson has now seconded Maggie Blyth from the College of Policing to lead the force.

Ms Blyth will begin the role on Tuesday, marking history as the second woman to take on the role in the constabulary's 185-year history. Her appointment ends a two-week gap during which the force had no top command and was consequently reliant upon its Executive Board for the overseeing of ongoing operations.

Chris Nelson said: "Bringing in someone as nationally respected as Maggie Blyth is very good news for the county".

In a message to officers and staff, he added: "Whilst the Constabulary has continued to operate as normal (a credit to your professionalism and commitment), over the last week I have been completely focused on identifying interim leadership for the organisation.

"I acted quickly and decisively to appoint an experienced officer with proven leadership skills - and who has operated at the very highest level of policing. I am pleased to say that - with the help of my excellent team - and with support and advice from the College of Policing, the Home Office, the National Police Chiefs' Council and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services - I have identified such an individual.

"Maggie will be seconded to Gloucestershire from the College of Policing, but will retain the national police lead tackling male violence against women and girls (VAWG). I am very grateful that she has offered us her services, experience and leadership skills during this interim period."

Maggie Blyth has more than 30 years' experience as a dedicated public servant. She started in the Probation Service and then went on to specialise in youth justice, creating the first youth offending team in 1998 and taking a leadership role at the Youth Justice Board from 2000 to 2005.

From 2006 to 2016 she worked for local government child protection services, where she had senior oversight of child protection arrangements, and worked on a number of high profile child sexual exploitation and domestic homicide operations.

After completing the College of Policing's strategic command course, she was promoted to Assistant Chief Constable in May 2019, overseeing local policing and public protection across Hampshire.

In October 2021, she took up the role of National Police Lead for VAWG at the National Police Chiefs' Council where she was responsible for designing and delivering the first national police strategy for tackling VAWG, implementing the first national threat assessment and advising the Government on plans for a new national co-ordination centre for tackling VAWG. In November last year, she joined the College of Policing as its Deputy Chief Executive.

Ms Blyth said: "It is an honour to be leading Gloucestershire Constabulary, the oldest county force in the country, with officers and staff who exemplify what it means to be a public servant.

"My intention is to lead the Force during this chapter and provide officers and staff with stability and leadership to meet the vision of the Police and Crime Prevention Plan set between the Police and Crime Commissioner and the public.

"My immediate focus now is on delivering for the people of Gloucestershire and I look forward to getting to know my new colleagues in the coming weeks".

Chief Constable Rod Hansen was suspended pending an investigation by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) into an alleged breach of standards of professional behaviour. Because there is no fixed timeline as to how long that investigation will take, and to ensure that a fully open, transparent and robust process is followed, the PCC has stated that it decided to run a competitive recruitment process to appoint a Temporary Chief Constable to lead the Force over the longer term.

The PCC added: "That post will be advertised next week when eligible officers from across the country will be invited to apply."

● In addition to the ongoing case against Rod Hansen, Shaun West, the former Deputy Chief Constable, retired in the summer amid a criminal investigation and misconduct allegations, which he subsequently denied.