A TOP cop with a wealth of experience is joining the senior ranks of Dorset Police.

Chief Superintendent Samantha (Sam) de Reya is moving across from Devon & Cornwall Police to join the Dorset force after being appointed Assistant Chief Constable for Operations.

Ms de Reya, who has had a varied career within policing, is a champion of women in the force, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in America.

She joins in early summer, taking over from Temporary ACC Mark Callaghan, and said she was looking forward to getting to know people and communities across Dorset.

She was selected following an appointment process, supported by Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill, Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Chief Fire Officer Ben Ansell and Deputy Chief Constable David Lewis.

Her most recent role was Commander for North, East and West Devon at Devon & Cornwall Police leading frontline policing services, investigation, neighbourhood policing and partnerships.

Ms de Reya joined Northumbria Police in 1996 where she was a police constable, detective and tutor, transferring to Devon & Cornwall Police in 1999. She has enjoyed a broad and challenging career including leadership roles as a local police area commander, crime investigation manager, Public Protection Unit supervisor, head of the Professional Standards Department and lead for a major force-wide IT change programme.

As Devon & Cornwall’s lead for the police Code of Ethics, championing ethical behaviour in the service, she is vice-chair of the Force’s Ethics Committee and remains co-chair of the South West Regional Police Ethics Network. She completed the national Police Strategic Command Course in March 2020 and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

As a senior female police officer and former gender representative of the Police Superintendents’ Association, Ms de Reya is actively involved in supporting equal opportunities and inclusion. She established the South West Women in Leadership programme in 2013, to help female police personnel to fulfil their full potential.

Chief Constable James Vaughan said: “I am delighted to appoint Sam to this crucial role and I look forward to welcoming her into the Dorset Police family in early summer.

“She has a wealth of experience in a range of policing roles and will be a valuable asset to the Chief Officer team.”

Ms de Reya said: “I’m thrilled to be joining the brilliant team at Dorset Police and feel privileged to be taking on the role of ACC Operations. I am looking forward enormously to getting to know people and communities across Dorset.”