GWENT Police Authority today announced the new chief constable will be Carmel Napier.

Mrs Napier, who is currently Deputy Chief Constable of the Wales Central Team, will take over when the current Chief Constable, Mick Giannasi, retires at the end of March.

Congratulating Mrs Napier on her appointment, chairwoman of Gwent Police Authority, Cilla Davies said: "We are extremely pleased to have been able to appoint someone with such extensive experience across different areas of policing. This experience will prove invaluable as we continue to look for ways to further improve our service to the public of Gwent."

Speaking after her appointment Mrs Napier said: "It's a great honour to have been appointed to this important role. I will work to serve the residents of Gwent to the best of my ability, and look forward to taking up this exciting challenge."

Mrs Napier was appointed as Deputy Chief Constable for Gwent Police in September 2008.

From 1st September 2010 she was seconded for six months to lead on All Wales collaboration as well as leading on serious and organised crime, counter terrorism and other regional specialist investigative activities across Wales.

Prior to joining Gwent Police, Mrs Napier spent two years as an Assistant Chief Constable in Essex Police after having been at North Yorkshire Police initially as Superintendent in charge of the Complaints and Professional Standards department, then promoted to Detective Chief Superintendent, Head of Specialist Support (specialist crime and operations), then progressing to Temporary Assistant Chief Constable.

She started her policing career in 1983 at Hertfordshire Constabulary where she served for 17 years.