Welcome Back for New Deputy Chief Constable

Helen King today joined the Cheshire Police team of chief officers as Deputy Chief Constable.

Formally taking up her new duties, she re-affirmed the oath which gives Police Officers policing powers, such as the power of arrest.

The oath was witnessed and signed by Moira Chapman, a magistrate and member of Cheshire Police Authority, the body which appointed Helen.

Moira Chapman said, "It was a great pleasure to welcome Helen back as she spent much of the early part of her career with Cheshire Constabulary.

"Officers only take the oath when they first become Police Officers or when they transfer from one constabulary to another. The words are a real reminder of the powers they are being given and the responsibilities which come with those powers."

Helen King said, "I have a very clear view that as Police Officers we are here to serve the public and do all we can to keep our communities safe and make them feel safe. Whatever challenges we may currently face, that core task does not change. At the heart of everything we have a continuing commitment to neighbourhood policing."

Helen King joined Cheshire Constabulary in 1986 and worked in Chester, Runcorn, Widnes, Warrington and Northwich. She went on to be police commander at Halton for three years. Later, as a Chief Superintendent, she was Northern Area Commander. She also spent some time as Cheshire Police Head of Professional Standards.

She moved to Merseyside Police in 2005 as Assistant Chief Constable and in 2009 took over responsibility for Merseyside′s six Areas and more than four thousand officers and staff.

The wording of the Police Officer′s Attestation is:

"I do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will well and truly serve the Queen in the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all people; and that I will, to the best of my power, cause the peace to be kept and preserved and prevent all offences against peoples and property; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will, to the best of my skill and knowledge, discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law."