Suzette Davenport is Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Police

Suzette Davenport has been appointed as the new Chief Constable of Gloucestershire Police.

Ms Davenport, currently deputy chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, will take up her role on 1 February.

It has emerged she is one of 14 police officers being investigated over the handling of a 2002 gangland murder.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission is looking at how the officers investigated Kevin Nunes' murder in Pattingham, Staffordshire.

The 49-year-old was one of four candidates interviewed to head the 2,207-strong constabulary.

It will be the first time in the force's 174-year history a woman has been at the helm.

She said: "I am delighted and hugely proud to be joining a progressive constabulary that has a strong reputation for policing.

'Challenging job'

"This is an exciting opportunity for me to work with the new Police and Crime Commissioner at the start of a new era and to deliver first class policing services and help keep the people of Gloucestershire safe."

Originally from North Yorkshire, Ms Davenport started her police service with West Mercia Police.

Ms Davenport said she was "hugely proud" to be joining the constabulary

After a short spell at the Home Office in 2005, she was appointed Assistant Chief Constable at Staffordshire Police and in May 2007 transferred to West Midlands Police, where she led intelligence and neighbourhood policing.

As well as her responsibilities in Northamptonshire, Ms Davenport is the national lead for roads policing in England and Wales.

For eight years, she was vice president of the British Association for Women in Policing.

The four candidates for the post were interviewed by a panel led by Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl.

He said: "When I became Commissioner I said we needed a Chief Constable whom, as well as having all the skills for such a challenging job, also needed to be committed to Gloucestershire. With Suzette we have that.

"Balancing public expectations with fewer resources will be our challenge.

"I am very much looking forward to working with Suzette to achieve that and to make the county an even better and safer place to live, work and enjoy."