Dacorum has appointed its new Chief Inspector of police, replacing the current CI.

Dave Skarratts, who took his position early last month following a promotion within the constabulary, is replacing CI Jason Keane.

Mr Skarratts said: "I’m a career detective specialising in covert policing, but I always loved my time in uniform and so it’s nice to back on the front line.

“A lot has changed since my time on intervention, such as the demand and expectations on policing, but, at the heart of it, it’s still the same job – tackle crime and make sure that people feel safe.”

Mr Skarratts, who was born in Hemel Hempstead and grew up in the area, started his journey with the force as a call handler in the control room when he was 18 - over two decades ago.

He was soon responding to emergency incidents with the intervention team as a PC.

In 2010, the Hertsmere native made a breakthrough as a detective for serious and organised crime, during which he was seconded to the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit, known to disrupt organised crime across the region.

Over the next five years, Mr Skarratts rose within the department, stepping into the role of detective inspector in 2019 and detective chief inspector in 2023.

This move allowed him to build a set of specialities in policing.

His role as Chief Inspector requires him to oversee the Neighbourhood Policing Team alongside managing the Local Crime Unit, responsible for handling severe crimes like burglary and robbery.

He added: "Dacorum is one of the busiest areas of the county, which obviously brings its challenges.

"I’m looking to use my previous experience to bring new ideas and tactics to this role, to proactively tackle the issues that are causing the most concern.

"I want to ensure that we’re focusing on the things that matter most to residents. We’re committed to working with our local partners, including the borough council and housing associations, to do just that.

“The Dacorum Community Safety Partnership has just launched its 2024 Community Safety Survey and I’d encourage people to please take part and have their say; your views really do make a difference.”

The form for the survey can be found at http://tinyurl.com/mpz4xtzm.

The police department is encouraging people to provide feedback from the community through their platform ‘echo’ at bit.ly/priorities-dacorum.