Devon & Cornwall Police welcomes new Assistant Chief Constable

Devon and Cornwall Police is pleased to announce the appointment of Deb Smith as Assistant Chief Constable (Crime, Justice and Vulnerability).

Deb joins the force from Wiltshire Police, where she served as Assistant Chief Constable and held a range of leadership positions throughout her policing career in both uniformed and detective roles.

With extensive operational and strategic experience, Deb is an accredited Strategic Firearms Commander, Senior Investigating Officer, Senior Identification Manager, Public Order Gold Commander and Multi-Agency Incident Commander.

Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith - Devon and Cornwall Police 

In May 2015, Deb was seconded to Operation Hydrant, the national policing response to non-recent child sexual abuse allegations in institutional settings. As Deputy National Coordinator, she led the operational coordination of the investigation, working with forces and partner agencies across the country.

Following her return to Wiltshire Police in December 2016, Deb served as Head of Crime before taking on the role of Head of Public Protection. She was subsequently promoted to Assistant Chief Constable, leading local policing and specialist operations before moving into the Crime, Justice and Vulnerability portfolio in June 2022. Most recently, she has overseen force transformation projects and programmes.

Deb also serves as the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Employer Supported Policing within the Citizens in Policing portfolio, championing opportunities for employers to support staff involvement in policing and community safety initiatives.

Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith said: "I am delighted to be joining Devon & Cornwall Police and look forward to working with colleagues, partners and communities across the force area.

"Throughout my career I have been passionate about protecting vulnerable people, supporting victims and ensuring communities receive the service they deserve. I am excited to build on the strong work already taking place across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and to help shape the force's future."

Chief Constable James Vaughan QPM said: "We are very pleased to welcome Deb to Devon & Cornwall Police. She brings a wealth of operational policing expertise, significant expertise in leading complex investigations, national experience and a proven track record of leadership.

"The Crime, Justice and Vulnerability portfolio is central to our mission of keeping people safe and ensuring victims receive the service and support they need. Deb's experience across crime, public protection, vulnerability and organisational transformation will be invaluable as we continue to improve our service to the public and deliver on our priorities for safer communities."