Dumfries and Galloway's new police chief takes up her post

Dumfries and Galloway has a new police chief.

Chief Superintendent Carol McGuire started as the region’s new divisional commander last week, taking over from Chief Superintendent Linda Jones who had been in the role for three years.

She has 25 years’ experience, during which time she has delivered tactical, operational and strategic policing responses to a range of large scale and high profile events.

The new chief also oversaw the introduction of remotely piloted aircraft systems to provide enhanced air support to divisions and led on the national project to introduce and procure new lighter and more flexible body armour for officers across the country.

She said: “It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to lead on local policing in the communities where I grew up.

“I was born in Stranraer and left there when I was 18 to study at university in Glasgow. My family are still here so the local link has not diminished with time.

“I am particularly looking forward to working with such a terrific team of officers and staff and I will be learning a lot from them in these early stages about our policing priorities.

“Linda has passed me a lovely legacy of strong collaboration and community engagement and I am determined to maximise that to the wider benefit of Dumfries and Galloway’s residents. I look forward to meeting with members of the community when the pandemic restrictions allow us to do so.”

Chief Superintendent Jones has moved on to a new position as head of Police Scotland’s safer communities division, which aims to protect the most vulnerable people and those who are at risks of harm through partnerships and community empowerment.

She said: “I will miss my colleagues and partners in Dumfries and Galloway and would like to thank them for their support and collaboration over these past three years.

“The value of partnership working can never be under-estimated and this last year alone is testament to that. The public health crisis placed unprecedented demand on all of us and our partnership approach to the response has really crystalised the importance of working together for the common good.

“I know that Carol will continue in that regard to keep Dumfries and Galloway’s communities safe and contribute to their wellbeing. She is an incredibly experienced and capable senior officer with local links to the community and I wish her all the very best in her new role.”