A POLICE officer with more than 30 years experience has been appointed the new Chief Constable for Kent.

Kent Police Authority announced 52-year-old Ian Learmonth as the new head of Kent police today (May 21), after previous Chief Constable Michael Fuller retired last month.

Mr Learmonth was previously Deputy Chief Constable of Norfolk Police and has served as an officer since 1976.

He said: “I’m absolutely thrilled and delighted to have the opportunity to work within a high performing force.

“My ambition is to move Kent forward from being a good, well respected force to delivering an outstanding service to the police council taxpayers of Kent and Medway.”