COLIN Spence has been elected as the new chairman of Suffolk Police Authority.

Mr Spence has been elected following previous chairman Gulshan Kayembe’s announcement to resign from the post.

Mr Spence, who lives in Sudbury, has served as vice chairman of the authority for the past year and has been a county councillor member of the authority since June 2005.

Mr Spence has been directly involved in recent high profile constabulary working groups, serving as the Authority’s representative on the policing pledge task force and the confidence working group.

He also serves as the link member for Sudbury & Great Cornard and Babergh West safer neighbourhood teams.

Mr Spence said: “I am very pleased to have been elected as chairman of the police authority.

I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as vice chair, and hope that my new role will give me the opportunity to work even closer with the constabulary to face the challenges that lie ahead for the public sector.

“I intend to adopt a pro-active and strategic leadership approach towards ensuring the Police Authority and the constabulary work well together to deliver an efficient and effective policing service to the people of Suffolk.

Judith Lancaster, of Tostock, near Bury St Edmunds, has been elected as vice chairman of the authority.