THE preferred candidate for the next Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary has been selected.

Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire, Simon Hayes, has picked Andy Marsh.

Mr Marsh, currently the Deputy Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary, was selected after a two-day interview process led by the commissioner and involving senior representatives from organisations across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The commissioner will now go before a confirmation hearing, held by the Hampshire Police and Crime Panel, which will decide whether or not to approve the selection of Mr Marsh for the role.

The hearing takes place this Friday at the Council Chamber of Hampshire County Council in Winchester.

Mr Hayes said: “There were four strong candidates to choose from, but throughout the whole process, Andy Marsh demonstrated to me that he is the right man to lead the force, that he shares my vision for the future and has the ability to inspire officers and staff to deliver my priorities and to make Hampshire and the Isle of Wight an even safer place.”

Mr Marsh joined Hampshire Constabulary as Deputy Chief Constable in July 2010.

He started his career with Avon and Somerset Police before transferring to Wiltshire Police as an Assistant Chief Constable in 2007.