PCC ‘confident’ in new Beds Police leadership

No PCC Olly Martins alongside the new Chief Constable for Bedfordshire Police, Colette Paul.

Police and Crime Commissioner Olly Martins says he remains “undaunted” by the challenges facing Bedfordshire Police at present as he welcomed the new Chief Constable who officially took charge of the force today.

Chief Constable Paul, who was recently awarded a Queens Police Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours, brings with her a wealth of policing experience having served with the Metropolitan Police Service and South Wales Police.

Ms Paul said: “There is no doubt that policing continues to operate in a challenging financial environment, but Bedfordshire has already proved that it can make the necessary savings whilst also reducing crime.

“I am looking forward to working with officers, staff, and partners to ensure that Bedfordshire is a county where crime is reducing and satisfaction in what we deliver increases.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Olly Martins added; “We are facing some serious challenges in Bedfordshire, both budgetary and in terms of policing.

“Meeting these challenges is going to require the strongest possible partnership between Bedfordshire Police and the people it serves, so that policing is done with communities rather than to them.

“Throughout the selection process Colette Paul demonstrated a clear grasp of this and a vision for how it can be delivered, whilst building on the performance gains achieved by the Force in recent years.

“It is because of my confidence in what the officers, staff and volunteers of Bedfordshire Police can do under the leadership of their new Chief Constable Colette Paul, and working with the public, that I remain undaunted by the challenges we face”.