New police chief logs on for duty

Mr Otter is facing difficult financial challenges in his new post

The newly-appointed chief constable of Devon and Cornwall Police has formally taken up the reins of power in his job.

Stephen Otter, 44, will be heading a force which has one of the better crime fighting records in England.

He was deputy chief constable of Avon and Somerset and has worked in Hong Kong and for the Metropolitan Police.

One of his first tasks has been to record a webcast as a way of introducing himself to communities in the two counties.

The former chief constable, Maria Wallis, stood down after facing an independent inquiry into a pay review which planned to cut salaries.

'Increase confidence'

"I'm proud and excited to be given this fantastic challenge - to lead a great force in a wonderful part of England," Mr Otter said.

"My main role will be to increase the confidence that the public have in their local police.

"I'd like to see us deal with major crime, right the way down to very minor crime, in an excellent way that really satisfies the public."

He said he had confidence in his "talented and committed" officers to deliver that.

Regular webcast

Mr Otter said the force had been through a difficult time and lessons were being learnt from a failed job evaluation exercise in 2005.

The former chief constable, Maria Wallis, had been facing an independent inquiry into the pay review which proposed cutting hundreds of civilian workers' salaries.

But finances look set to dominate the police agenda, with the Home Office asking for savings of £7m this year and another £5m in 2008.

Mr Otter intends to broadcast to the public on the Devon and Cornwall Police website every six weeks.