A FORMER chief constable for Gloucestershire has become the new chairman of the county’s crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers.

Tony Butler, who was chief constable of Gloucestershire from 1993 to 2001 and led the constabulary during the investigation into Fred and Rosemary West, will officially take office in April.

He replaces the outgoing chairman Ceri Evans, former High Sheriff of Gloucestershire who is standing down after four years.

Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl, who is helping to fund the charity with a grant of nearly £70,000 over the next four years said: “Ceri has been a tremendous ambassador for Crimestoppers and has led the organisation during a difficult period of austerity.

“I would like to place on record my thanks for all his hard work on behalf of Crimestoppers and the people of Gloucestershire.

“Tony I know well from our time together as serving officers. He brings a wealth of experience to the job and I look forward to working with him.”

Mr Butler said the charity had gone form strength to strength since it was formed.

“It is a byword in law enforcement and because it has the confidence of the community is a vital tool in the fight against crime,” he said.

“I intend to build on the work of Ceri and with the Crimestoppers Board to continue to raise Crimestoppers’ profile to increase the flow of vital information from the community to the police.”