THE Thames Valley's police and crime commissioner (PCC) has chosen John Campbell as his preferred choice to become the region's chief constable, after a 'detailed selection process'.

Mr Campbell, who has been deputy chief constable since 2015, says he feels 'privileged to be chosen' and paid tribute to his predecessor.

Current chief constable Francis Habgood is set to retire in March. 

READ MORE: Thames Valley Police Chief Constable Francis Habgood announces retirement

PCC Anthony Stansfeld said: “After a detailed selection process I am delighted to announce that John Campbell is my preferred candidate to be appointed as the next chief constable for Thames Valley Police. 

"I look to forward to working closely with him in the future.”

Mr Campbell, who has 30 years service in the police and leads nationally on how the police respond to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents and attacks, said: “I feel privileged to be chosen as the preferred candidate for the next chief constable of Thames Valley Police.

“I am very proud to have been a chief officer with Thames Valley Police for more than eight years, and will be taking over from an outstanding chief constable in Francis Habgood. I hope to build on his successes in my tenure as chief.

“It will be an honour to lead all those who work and volunteer for us so that we can continue to deliver a police force that protects the communities of the Thames Valley and gives the public the standard of service that they deserve.”

BACKGROUND: Thames Valley Police searches for new chief constable

He originally joined West Midlands Police in 1988, before transferring to Hampshire Constabulary in 2001 and joining Thames Valley Police in July 2010.

The PCC's office says he has held operational and command roles across a number of disciplines, including criminal investigation, specialist operations and local policing and worked as a hostage and crisis negotiator.

Whilst in Hampshire, he spent four years as the police commander in Portsmouth and then became the chief superintendent in charge of uniform operations, before joining Thames Valley. He later went on to command uniform operations across both forces as assistant chief constable (operations), moving to ACC crime in 2013 and deputy chief constable in May 2015.

He was responsible for the policing of the Olympic events, including the south east regional phase of the torch relay. He also led the multi-agency response to the flooding in Oxfordshire and Berkshire in 2014.

In 2015 he received the Queens Police Medal, in the birthday honours list, for services to policing.

The appointment is subject to a confirmation hearing by the Thames Valley Police and Crime Panel who will review the PCC’s proposed appointment on Friday, February 1.

Tom Hayes, Oxford City Council's crime lead, said: “I welcome this announcement and, as Oxford’s representative on the Police and Crime Panel, look forward to scrutinising the preferred candidate for the next chief constable on February 1.

"Thames Valley Police have had their hands tied behind their back by a Tory Government who won’t properly fund them and a Tory Police and Crime Commissioner who won’t fight for funding. I will want to know in the upcoming confirmation meeting how this very experienced officer plans to fill the shoes of one of the country’s best chief constables, lead those who put their lives on the line for our safety, and ensure communities see rising crime level fall again and plummeting police numbers increase."