ON her first day as Hampshire Constabulary’s new Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney called on all communities across the county and the Isle of Wight to join with her in making the force “a standard bearer for protecting the most vulnerable and reducing offending.”

In an open letter to the public published on Monday, this week, she highlighted the need to “safeguard the vulnerable, not least those at risk of child sexual exploitation and domestic abuse,” and committed to work to achieve “the highest standards of integrity and transparency” in order to build the “trust and confidence of all communities.”

Highlighting the need for “Ideas, voices, perspectives and experience beyond the traditional spheres,” she called on all communities to work with her officers and staff, building even stronger partnerships with other agencies to keep the counties” one of the safest places to live in the country”.

The Chief Constable said:“A key part of success will remain catching those who prey on the vulnerable, but we can’t just respond to victims when they have suffered.

“We need to be better at preventing offending in the first place. This includes safeguarding the vulnerable, not least those at risk of child sexual exploitation and domestic abuse. None of this can be done by the police acting alone.

“The cases we deal with can be complex and the unfortunate truths are we tend to deal with people on their most difficult days and much of the sophisticated work that goes on behind the scenes to stop people becoming victims cannot be widely publicised. This means what my officers, staff and those who volunteer their help do every day is important, but so is why and how.

“If the police are seen to act arrogantly or as if they have a right to do as they wish public confidence becomes damaged and victims are not put first. To be an effective police officer, let alone chief constable, you need to earn the trust and respect of all communities.

“That is what decades of British policing has been built upon. So everything we do must be rooted in the highest standards of integrity and transparency. You deserve nothing less from us.”

Calling the communities in Hampshire and the island “wonderfully rich, diverse and deserving of brilliant policing,” the letter said she would “like to use this opportunity on day one in my new role to invite all of you to join me, to work with me and to support my staff and officers.”

Mrs Pinkney was confirmed as the new Chief Constable by Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes on March 11.

She joins Hampshire at a time when the force is recruiting 198 police officers. The force said it will seize the opportunity to increase the representation of black and minority ethnic communities within its ranks.

The former Deputy Chief Constable of Sussex Police heads up the National Police Chiefs’ Council’s Policing of Children and Young People and the Women Chief Officers’ network.

Prior to Sussex Police she was Assistant Inspector of Constabulary with HMIC, independently inspecting police forces and policing.

She has previously served as Assistant Chief Constable for Surrey and Sussex Police, and was head of the UK police group tackling organised immigration crime including people trafficking.

She began her career policing in Avon and Somerset. Ms Pinkney was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the New Year’s Honours list, in January.