Four out of five of Oxfordshire's police commanders will be replaced following a reshuffle of Thames Valley Police.

Officers in Oxford, the Vale of White Horse, south Oxfordshire and west Oxfordshire will answer to new bosses after the force announced wide-ranging changes to its hierarchy.

New Oxfordshire commander Chief Supt Brendan O'Dowda, who has been replaced as Oxford commander by Supt Andy Murray, said the moves would strengthen policing in the county.

He said: "I am absolutely thrilled about the new team as it presents a fantastic opportunity. Oxfordshire has a population of about 630,000 which is the biggest Basic Command Unit in the country.

"It is already served extremely well in terms of crime reduction and this will continue.

"On paper this looks like a major reshuffle, but with new personalities brings lots of opportunities.

Supt Amanda Pearson, from City of London Police, will fill Mr Murray's shoes as head of south Oxfordshire.

Chief Insp Jack Malhi and Supt Dennis Evernden will swap roles and Supt Andy Boyd will replace Chief Insp Philip Littlechild as commander of Vale of White Horse.

Mr Boyd, a former crime manager at Oxford CID, has been acting commander of Oxford for the past month.

In another change, Francis Habgood was appointed Deputy Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police — the second most senior position in the force.

Former Assistant Chief Constable Mr Habgood, 43, will step into the shoes of Alex Marshall, who is now Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary.

Supt Howard Stone, of Cherwell, is the only policing authority commander to stay in post during the changes.