NINE senior officers who will help take the new-look Kent Police force into the future have been named.

The chief superintendents include the area commanders for the force’s six new policing area, which start to come into effect in April.

They are: North Kent, Gary Beautridge; West Kent, Mark Salisbury; Maidstone and Swale, Alasdair Hope; Medway, Jan Stephens; Canterbury and Thanet, Peter West; Weald and South East Kent, Steve Harris.

A Kent Police spokesman said: "The move from nine policing areas to six comes as a result of a force-wide review to ensure Kent Police is fit to deliver a top-class service across the county for the next decade.

"It aims to ensure the force’s policing area boundaries tie in as much as possible with those of its partner organisations and follows extensive consultation with partners across the county."

Three key headquarters posts have also been filled. Supt Alan Horton will be promoted to chief superintendent to head the force’s tactical operations department, where he is currently based.

The ‘Tac Ops’ team is made up of specialist units responsible for traffic policing, firearms, the dog unit, public order, the marine unit and border policing.

Two officers from other forces have also been appointed to top Kent chief superintendent jobs.

John Molloy, of West Mercia Police, will take over as Head of Partnership and Crime Reduction, heading the department that leads on work with other organisations in the county to keep Kent safe.

This is a unique role, working to both Kent Police and Kent County Council, which part funds the post.

Trevor Smith, currently with the City of London Police, will be Head of Crime and Intelligence, responsible for the teams that investigate more serious crimes, including major and organised crime.

Of the new area commander team, Gary Beautridge, Jan Stephens and Steve Harris are currently chief superintendents.

Gary Beautridge, a former Canterbury area commander, is currently working for the National Centre for Policing Excellence, leading national work on the way police forces investigate crime.

Jan Stephens is currently the force’s Head of Partnerships and Crime Reduction and was previously Swale area commander. Steve Harris, now Head of Professional Standards in Kent, is returning to an area he knows well. He was previously area commander in South East Kent.

Mark Salisbury, Alasdair Hope and Peter West will be promoted to their new roles, which come into effect on 1 April.

Mark Salisbury is currently area commander in Maidstone, Alasdair Hope in Swale and Peter West was area commander for the Weald before taking part in an exchange programme last year with the South Australian Police.

A number of deputies have also been appointed to the top roles. Supt Paul Brandon, currently South East Kent area commander, will join Alan Horton in tactical operations. Supt Stella Mercer, now area commander for Medway, will become Head of Intelligence, a vital role in the battle against criminals.

Three of the new deputy area commanders have now been named. Supt Joanna Young, currently Canterbury area commander, will work at Canterbury and Thanet; headquarters-based superintendents Steve Brightman and Chris Hogben will go to Medway and North Kent respectively.

Selection for the other deputy area commanders will take place at the end of January/early February, with interview for chief inspector posts shortly afterwards.

There will then be a planned and phased move to the new area structure to ensure that it’s business as usual in the way the force serves the public.

The new top teams will be working closely with local organisations, consulting them on plans for the transition to the new policing areas. One important element of this will be what those areas are called. Discussions are also continuing on the detailed boundaries of some areas.

Chief Constable Mike Fuller said: "I am delighted that we have a team of such talented individuals to help steer the force into the next decade.

"All of them are determined to work for and with the people of Kent to keep the county a safe place and maintain and improve the quality of life for everyone living here."