Northumbria Police’s next chief constable has vowed to be a “visible” presence and put more resources into combating crime in rural areas.
Vanessa Jardine has been officially confirmed as Winton Keenen’s successor in the top job after her appointment was signed off by a panel of councillors on Tuesday. She is due to take up the role in March and joins from West Midlands Police, where she is currently the deputy chief constable.
At a special hearing before the Northumbria Police and Crime Panel, Ms Jardine promised she would be a “visible” chief. Asked by Northumberland councillor Gordon Stewart how she planned to ensure the needs of more rural communities were addressed as well as urban ones, she vowed to designate key “impact areas” across the entire region that needed extra attention from police.
Also pinpointing Berwick as one potential location, she added: “That would include areas around Newcastle and Sunderland, but within the rural areas as well. It is about identifying areas that the police, local authorities, and third sector bodies can really focus on to make the biggest difference.
“I recognise that, particularly here in Northumbria, resources get drawn into the urban areas. But by identifying impact areas across the whole of the force we will make sure that all areas with the most need get that focus.”
Ms Jardine spoke about the need for senior police officers to have the “moral courage” to speak out about unacceptable behaviour of colleagues and vowed to be on the lookout for “little things that signal that the culture might not be the right culture”.
Before joining West Midlands Police she worked at Greater Manchester Police, where she served as a detective at every rank and the head of public protection. She was the force lead for domestic abuse, child protection and child sexual exploitation. Ms Jardine also spent some time in the North East in 2016 on a temporary secondment and said she was “really looking forward to coming back".
Police and crime commissioner Kim McGuinness told the panel that the process that led to Ms Jardine being chosen as her preferred choice as Mr Keenen’s successor once he retires was “competitive with really high quality candidates”. Ms McGuinness said: “I congratulate Vanessa on her appointment as Chief Constable.
“She not only brings with her a wealth of experience from a successful and varied career in policing, but she is determined to push Northumbria to be the very best it can be. She is a well-liked and highly regarded officer and as a leader she will be ambitious, inspiring and inclusive. There’s no denying we face difficult times ahead but I am confident she is up to the challenge.”
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