HE was the man tipped for the top job - and now it's official.

Hampshire now has a new chief constable who will take up the helm of running the county's police force next week.

Andy Marsh, the current deputy chief constable, was appointed unanimously by the county's new police and crime panel as the best man to replace the existing police boss Alex Marshall who is leaving the force to become the head of the new national college of policing.

Speaking of his appointment, Mr Marsh said: "Hampshire Constabulary has made significant changes and proven highly effective at tackling crime, anti-social behaviour and safeguarding the public under the leadership of Alex Marshall.

"It is a real privilege to have the opportunity to continue to progress that great work, and I look forward to working with the PCC in building and developing a policing service that focuses on the needs of all those within our communities.”

As reported on Tuesday, Mr Marsh, 46, was the favoured candidate by the Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes after he excelled in all parts of his interviews.

He was then put before the panel and publicly interviewed for the role during which he said he wanted to be at the heart of a truthful organisation the public could trust in light of national scandals surrounding Leveson, Hillsborough and the plebgate debacle.

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