A NEW Chief Constable of Wiltshire Police has been appointed after being endorsed by the Wiltshire Police and Crime Panel (PCP).

After a special meeting at County Hall in Trowbridge, the panel backed the appointment of Mike Veale meaning he only has to pass a medical and a security check before taking up the role on June 1.

Mr Veale, the force's current Deputy Chief Constable, is to succeed Pat Geenty who is retiring on May 31, pending the closure of an IPCC investigation into his handling of sexual abuse complaints.

Mr Veale was the only candidate for the position.

Speaking after today's confirmation meeting, Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner Angus Macpherson said: "I am pleased that the Police and Crime Panel has ratified the decision reached last week by the selection panel.

“Some members of the PCP shared my concern that we had interviewed only one candidate for this important post, but we were able to reassure them that the process was rigorous and that the panel had a strong, independent make-up, including a human resources expert approved by the Home Office.”

Mr Veale, who said: "I fully understand that the Police and Crime Panel wanted to satisfy themselves that I was thoroughly tested by the selection panel, and I am pleased that members concluded that I was. I now look forward to stepping up from 1 June and building on the achievements of Chief Constable Geenty."

Mr Veale has been the DCC at Wiltshire Police since March 2013, after joining the force in January 2005 as a Detective Superintendent from Avon and Somerset Constabulary.