Gwent Police has confirmed its new Chief Constable as Jeff Farrar.
Mr Farrar had been in temporary charge of Gwent Police since June this year after former chief constable Carmel Napier was controversially forced out by Police and Crime Commissioner Ian Johnston.
He was named as the force’s preferred candidate last month and his appointment was confirmed by Gwent’s Police and Crime Panel today (November 8).
Farrar, who takes up his post with immediate effect, said: “I am delighted and deeply honoured that my recommendation to be Chief Constable by the Police and Crime Commissioner was endorsed by the Police and Crime Panel. I have immense pride in leading a Force that cares deeply about the service it delivers and is full of individuals who aspire to the highest standards of policing.
“I began my career as police constable some 29 years ago in Cardiff. My main motivation was a desire to help the most vulnerable in our society and to hold those responsible for committing crimes to account. This desire has underpinned my entire service across the various areas of policing I have worked. Now that I’ve been appointed Chief Constable this motivation is more important than ever.
“I don’t for one minute underestimate the scale of the task ahead of me but I am confident that with my experience and with the support of the officers and staff we are very well placed to continue to deliver the caring and high quality of service that our communities have rightly come to expect.
“Going forward my vision is that we continue to protect and reassure people, or in simple terms make people safe and feel safe.
“It’s important that we get the bad guys off the streets, but we also need to listen and respond to the specific concerns of residents.
“I want people to have confidence in Gwent Police whether they call for our service or not.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Ian Johnston said: “Having commended Jeff Farrar to the Police and Crime Panel, I am pleased that they have confirmed his appointment today. He has done a fantastic job as temporary Chief Constable and indeed throughout his time with Gwent Police has shown that he is a strong leader who has the support of officers, staff as well as our partners and he is undoubtedly the right person for the job.
“I am really looking forward to continuing to work with Jeff to achieve the best policing service for the people of Gwent.”
Cllr Colin Mann, chair of today’s Panel, welcomed the decision.
He said: “On behalf of the Gwent Police and Crime Panel I would like to congratulate Mr Farrar on his appointment and we look forward to working closely together in the future. Mr Farrar will be instrumental in working with the Police and Crime Commissioner to look at the strategic direction of the force to ensure it serves the interests of all our communities across Gwent.”
I refer the new Chief Constable, and our Crime and Police Commissioner to the following:
Police warning after spate of garage break-ins in Bedwas
The police can only solve problems if clues are left at the scene of the crime or if information is given to them from us.
Do try to be more positive Jeff, it helps if the likes of you stops whinging. Please.
Clive: You say "The police can only solve problems if clues are left at the scene of the crime or if information is given to them from us".ABSOLUTELY CORRECT Clive, But, the clues can only be collected when those charged with that responsibility visit the scene and ` collect` the clues, people who suffer low level crime and anti social behaviour are failing to report such incidents because they are of the view that ` the police will do nothing anyway, except of course issue an incident number in order to validate an insurance claim`.
A potentially serious assault took place recently in Caerphilly town Centre, the police were informed, and, on the first call did not respond, after a more frantic phone call to the police call centre by the person who had been physically assaulted, intimidated and grossly harassed, a police officer did turn up, but had been sent from her duties in Pontllanfraith, by this time the gang of six or seven assailants had dispersed to the residential streets to be lost. The person attacked? 70 years of age, what was that person doing? going about his lawful activity, where did this assault happen,? within fifty feet of the Caerphilly town Centre Police Office. Is it no wonder that hard working police officers do not regard Garage Break-ins as a `priority` Crime, when, due to cut backs and re-organisations, the nearest and most convenient officer to be allocated this serious assault was miles away and outside even the Caerphilly Basin,probably not Jeff Farrar, Gwent Police's new Chief Constable fault, it could be said he ` inherited` this situation, but he now has the power and responsibility to change it.
Let`s have your positive slant on that Clive!!!!!!
Clive; on a more personal note, can you explain how referring the new Chief constable to a `spate` on local crimes in our area is ` whinging`?
If you regard highlighting,and, drawing the attention of the highest possible level of law enforcement to crime in our area, as Whinging` then you are not of the real world, and, when we have Local Councillors who prefer to attend this function or that dinner, this back-slapping events or that social gathering, than to deal with the problems being encountered by their constituents, the very reason they were elected in the first place, then you should rejoice that there are many members of the community who WILL complain to the police, WILL complain that the Council are not doing this or that, and will report crimes and complain when little or nothing is done to solve them.
Local Councillors are the`key` to ensuring their communities are safe, and that elderly people in particular can walk the streets in safety.
If you disagree with me let us all know, I and other could of course `sit on our hands` much like you appear to want us to do, probably like you do. But that will not happen I promise.