GLOUCESTERSHIRE'S former Chief Constable Tony Butler has been appointed the new chairman of the county’s crime fighting charity, Crimestoppers.

Mr 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 over the post in April.

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

The announcement was made at the organisation’s annual dinner last week.

Mr Butler said: “Since it was formed, Crimestoppers has gone from strength to strength. 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

“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.”