A new inspector has been appointed for Basingstoke Rural and the district's Priority Crime Team.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary has announced Tracey Purcell as the new inspector.

With more than 16 years of service in policing, Inspector Purcell has worked in various roles, spending the majority of her career in frontline policing.

After graduating from university, she began her career in 2008 as a Special Constable in Southampton, a role she enjoyed for two years.

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Tracey Purcell has been appointed as the new inspector for Basingstoke Rural (Image: Hampshire Constabulary) Insp Purcell then spent six years working in Southampton, four years in the New Forest and five years in Response in the north of the county.

She worked as a Custody Sergeant and Investigation Sergeant before being promoted to the rank of Inspector in November 2022, when she became the DPT (Response) Inspector covering Basingstoke, Hart and Rushmoor, Winchester and Test Valley.

Insp Purcell said: "I’m delighted to become the new Basingstoke Rural and Priority Crime Team Inspector.

"I’ve spent a lot of my career in the north of county, I love it here and I’m familiar with the area, the people and some of the policing challenges we face in the district.

"I’m excited about the opportunity to help expand my knowledge of neighbourhood policing, I love detail and can’t wait to make a positive impact in Basingstoke and Deane."

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In her new role as Rural and Priority Crime Team Inspector, she will oversee the Basingstoke Priority Crime Team, which works predominantly to disrupt those who are at risk of harm and focuses on drug-related harm, child sexual and criminal exploitation, domestic abuse, and serious violence.

Insp Purcell added: "Our district is fascinating, we have a large town and also a huge rural community which I’m looking forward to getting to know.

"Since arriving as the new Inspector, I’ve been really impressed with my colleagues in the Neighbourhood Policing Team and I know how hard they are working.

"I’m keen to nurture that, I love developing people and keeping them motivated.

"Basingstoke has a real community feel and I’m determined to tackle the issues which impact our communities."

As well as her day role, Tracey helps run the Duke of Edinburgh process for police cadets and police family members and usually carries out this work on weekends when she’s off duty.

Outside of work, Insp Purcell is a huge music fan and loves going to gigs with her friends and family as well as spending time with her fiancé and her Labrador/Spaniel rescue dog from Cyprus.