Assistant chief constables appointed

POLICE area commander Heather Valentine, who led a review team into the murder of Stephen Lawrence, has been appointed one of two assistant chief constables for Herts police.

And the current acting chief constable, Steve Devine, has been appointed to the other post.

The appointments come after assistant chief constable Simon Parr became Herts police deputy chief constable in May, and Rob Beckley was appointed deputy chief constable of Avon and Somerset.

Ian Laidlaw-Dickson, chairman of Herts Police Authority, said: "Their skills, knowledge and strengths will complement the existing chief officer team."

He continued that each would take a new approach to the "challenges and demands" of future policing in Herts.

Mr Laidlaw-Dickson added he was "delighted" with the appointments.

Heather Valentine has spent the past 28 years with the Metropolitan Police.

She began her career in Barnet, which at the time covered the southern part of Herts, and later became head of operations in Ealing.

Her current position is borough commander for Hammersmith and Fulham.

Steve Devine joined Herts police in 2002 as superintendent, having served with the Metropolitan police in north London and east London.

During his time with Herts police he has been involved in a number of roles which have included head of serious and organised crime and director of performance.

He was head of Operation Crystal, the campaign to tackle drug-trafficking in Herts.

Chief Constable Frank Whiteley said: "These are good appointments for Herts police, providing both a degree of continuity and inside knowledge, and an outside perspective."

The police review into the killing of student Stephen Lawrence came in the wake of the Macpherson Inquiry which severely criticised the police for the handling of the murder investigation.