HAMPSHIRE Constabulary could have its first female boss.

The county’s police and crime commissioner Simon Hayes has backed Olivia Pinkney as the preferred candidate to become his new Chief Constable.

The commissioner made his decision following disccussions with community groups and partners from 18 organisations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, and a two-day interview with the final two candidates.

Ms Pinkney has been Sussex’s Deputy Chief Constable role since March 2014 and has extensive experience of shaping and leading strategic and organisational change, including Sussex Police 2020 – to meet the financial challenges to save £60million from the force budget.

She is currently chairman of Sussex’s resilience forum, working with agencies and partners across the county and was involved in the response to the Shoreham air show disaster last year.

She also heads the national children and young people policy group for the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), having also worked on policies to fight people trafficking.

She also spearheaded the launch of Operation Kite against child sexual exploitation, with Sussex’s PCC and the Home Office, in 2015.

The former assistant inspector with Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabularly where she lead independent professional assessments of police force’s efficiency and effectiveness, was also the first officer to hold the new joint post of Assistant Chief Constable for Sussex and Surrey Police for the last two years, and was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the 2016 New Year Honours.

Mr Hayes said his decision: “Olivia was an incredibly strong candidate and will bring a wealth of operational experience and strategic leadership to the chief constable role.

“I am confident this robust recruitment process has helped me to identify the right individual to lead Hampshire Constabulary through the continued times of austerity and changing policing landscape in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”

Ms Pinkney said: “Hampshire is a brilliant force with great people. I am delighted to have been selected as the preferred candidate, and it will be an honour to have the opportunity of serving alongside them.”