Temporary deputy police chief wants to make a difference
A TEMPORARY deputy chief officer has been appointed by Guernsey Police.
Richard Bell will be in post for six months and takes over from former DCO Ian Scholes, who retired from the service earlier this summer, having signalled his intention to do so more than a year ago.
DCO Bell’s responsibilities will be for professional standards, corporate services, and counter terrorism.
‘I am taking the lead at a time of significant change, and I am excited by both the challenge of tasks ahead and the aspirations of delivering more effective and efficient processes to improve service delivery,’ he said.
DCO Bell was previously a chief superintendent in Dorset, where he oversaw core policing functions of response, neighbourhoods, investigations and safeguarding, with additional responsibility for serious and acquisitive crime and workforce planning.
He was also an active member of specialist command and on-call senior officer teams, overseeing complex investigations, major incidents and high-profile operations.
He was given a lifetime achievement award for policing excellence in public service when he retired in August after a 30-year career.
DCO Bell said he was delighted to be joining the local force for the next six months and thanked chief officer Ruari Hardy and all the officers and staff for making him feel welcome.
‘I already have a sense of community and thoroughly enjoy my coastal runs, sea swims, and visit to the Raiders’ matches,’ he said.
Officers and staff he had spoken to were part of the community and he said he could see that they cared deeply about the service they provided and wanted to make a difference.
‘The challenges facing policing are universal, but the local context is critical in developing an appropriate response,’ said DCO Bell.
‘I look forward to learning more about the islands, experiencing the joys of island life, while working hard to make a positive difference.’
