AN OFFICER who has been in charge of Thames Valley Police's coronavirus response has a new top role.

Christian Bunt has been appointed as temporary Assistant Chief Constable of Local Policing.

On Monday, he took over this job from Chris Ward, who is retiring.

ACC Bunt joined Thames Valley Police in 2002 and has worked much of his career in a wide range of local policing roles including having been Local Police Area Commander for Oxford and Wokingham.

He has performed operational command roles at all ranks including 15 years as a Public Order Commander, commanding some of the force’s largest events and operations over this period.

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More recently he has been in charge of the force’s response to coronavirus.

His role oversees all aspects of local policing including emergency response, investigation and neighbourhood policing teams.

He said: “I am really excited by the opportunities to take local policing to the next level and looking at a number of areas where we can make further positive steps in the service we deliver to our local communities."

He added: “Where crime does occur I want us to effectively investigate and provide a good service to the victim.

"I also want to ensure we are proactively tackling those that cause most harm in our communities."