THE preferred candidate to become the third chief constable of Dorset Police in less than two years has been named.

Amanda Pearson, who is currently a senior officer with the Metropolitan Police, has been announced as the favoured applicant by Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner David Sidwick.

The appointment will be subject to a confirmation hearing by the Dorset Police and Crime Panel next month.

If confirmed, Ms Pearson will take over the role from Scott Chilton, who is moving across the county border for the chief constable role in Hampshire later in the year.

Mr Chilton joined Dorset Police in 2020 and took over from former chief constable James Vaughan the following year.

Bournemouth Echo: Dorset Police's current chief constable Scott Chilton is joining Hampshire and Isle of Wight ConstabularyDorset Police's current chief constable Scott Chilton is joining Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary

Mr Sidwick said: “Amanda Pearson was the outstanding candidate. I wanted someone who had experience across a number of forces, had worked across the breadth of policing, understood the diversity of Dorset and the needs of an urban, coastal and rural community.

“Amanda has shown that through her many years of experience in policing, dealing with significant challenges, that she is very much the right person for the job.

“What Dorset needs in a chief constable is a tough crimefighter who will drive forward and deliver on the police and crime plan and policing vision that is already fundamentally delivering for the people of Dorset.

“I want Dorset to be the safest county and I know that Amanda shares that ambition and would work hard in order to achieve it.

“If confirmed by the police and crime panel, Amanda will look to take over leadership of the force in March and I am looking forward to working closely with her and her team to deliver the public’s priorities for policing and Dorset being the safest county.”

Ms Pearson has been in policing since 1993, across a number of forces including Hertfordshire, the City of London and Thames Valley.

Most recently she has been with the Metropolitan Police Service, where she is currently serving as temporary assistant commissioner and is the national chief constables’ lead for stop and search. She became a chief officer in 2018 and and lives in Ferndown.

Ms Pearson said: “I am honoured and delighted to be selected as the police and crime commissioner’s preferred candidate to be the chief constable of Dorset. I am excited by the prospect of being chief constable of my home patch, working closely with our communities, partners and the PCC to ensure Dorset is safe for everyone who lives, works and visits here.

“I look forward to working with our officers and staff – every one of them makes a positive contribution to keeping Dorset safe, and together with our leadership team, I will ensure they are supported to provide an even better service.”

Six candidates applied for the Dorset chief constable role and three went through to the final selection process following shortlisting.