DORSET'S new assistant chief constable (operations) has been welcomed into the force by police chiefs.

Adrian Whiting, who will be responsible for operational policing in the county, joins Dorset Police from Hampshire Police where he was Chief Superintendent in charge of developing the county's response to chemical and biological incidents.

Dorset Police Chief Constable Jane Stichbury has welcomed Mr Whiting to the chief officer team.

She said: "I am delighted to welcome Mr Whiting, who joins Dorset's chief officer team with over 20 years of experience, gained in a broad range of policing environments both in Hampshire and the Metropolitan Police in London.

"Mr Whiting has a strong focus on responding to the needs of the local community and I am sure he will work hard to build on the firm foundations of successful partnerships we have already developed here in Dorset."

Mr Whiting joined the Metropolitan Police in 1982 serving as a constable for nine years in the traffic section in the East End of London and then as a sergeant in Tooting, London, before returning to the road policing unit as an inspector.

After being promoted to chief inspector he spent time in operations in Wandsworth, London, and in the Criminal Justice Department in Tooting before becoming a superintendent.

In 1999 Mr Whiting, who is married with three children, was transferred to Hampshire to become the divisional commander for the North East Hampshire Division based in Aldershot.

He later joined the Professional Standards Department and in 2001 was promoted to chief superintendent to become head of the department.

Mr Whiting said: "I am delighted to be joining Dorset, which has a superb reputation for being both a very effective and also a very friendly force.

"I look forward to building on the excellent work of my predecessor to help Dorset Police provide a first class police service for the local community."

His policing interests and experience include public order and firearms command.

He was the commanding officer for the Farnborough International Air Show and public order commander for protests in Portsmouth concerning sex offenders in the community.