Appointment of new chief constable of Surrey Police confirmed
The new chief constable of Surrey Police has been confirmed as Tim De Meyer after the county’s Police and Crime Panel unanimously approved his appointment on Tuesday (January 17).
Police and crime commissioner (PCC) Lisa Townsend said Mr De Meyer, who is currently an assistant chief constable with Thames Valley Police, was the “outstanding candidate” for the post following a “thorough selection process” carried out earlier this month.
He will replace the outgoing chief constable Gavin Stephens, who is set to depart Surrey Police in April this year after successfully being elected as the next head of the National Police Chiefs’ Council.
Ms Townsend said: “I am absolutely delighted the panel have confirmed my appointment of Tim De Meyer and I would like to whole-heartedly congratulate him on securing the role of chief constable for this county.
“Tim was the outstanding candidate in a strong field during the interview process and his vision for forging an exciting future for policing in Surrey shone through at the meeting yesterday.
“I believe he will bring a wealth of experience from a varied policing career across two different forces and the force will be in great hands with him at the helm.
“I was really impressed with the energy, passion and commitment he showed both yesterday and during the selection process, which I am confident will make him an inspirational and exceptional leader for the force.
“I know he is really looking forward to the challenge and working with our policing teams, partners and residents in continuing to make Surrey one of the safest counties in the country for our communities.”
Mr De Meyer, who was the PCC’s preferred candidate, said: “It will be a privilege to be the chief constable of Surrey Police and I cannot wait to get started in April.
“I shall inherit the leadership of excellent officers, staff and volunteers, whose commitment to policing is plain to see. It will be wonderful to work with them to serve the people of Surrey.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I must thank the PCC and the Police and Crime Panel for putting their trust in me to lead Surrey Police into its next chapter.
“I am determined to repay this trust by taking my responsibility to build on the strong foundations already in place. By working together with our partners and the public, Surrey Police will rise to the crime-fighting challenges ahead and continue to earn the trust and confidence of all our communities.”
Ms Townsend said Mr De Meyer’s suitability for the role “was tested during a thorough assessment day”, which included questioning from some of Surrey Police’s key stakeholders and an interview with an appointments panel chaired by the PCC.
Mr De Meyer began his police career with the Metropolitan Police Service in 1997 and joined Thames Valley Police in 2008.
In 2012, he was promoted to chief superintendent for Neighbourhood Policing and Partnership before becoming head of Professional Standards in 2014. He was promoted to assistant chief constable for crime and criminal justice in 2017 and moved to local policing in 2022.