Chief Superintendent Jeanette McDiarmid, pictured, has been appointed local police commander for the Lothians and Borders.
Living in the Borders with two teenage children, she will take charge of an area stretching from Harthill in West Lothian to the border.
Chief Supt McDiarmid, a former head of Special Branch in London and, most recently, the Lothian and Borders force’s divisional commander for West Lothian, said: “Tackling crime, keeping people safe and building confidence will be at the heart of everything the Lothians and Scottish Borders Division stands for.
“I am passionate about the benefits of focused local policing and will be working closely with the communities to identify and address their concerns through the local policing plans – there will be a specific plan for every council ward area.”
She transferred to Lothian and Borders Police from the Metropolitan force in 2005.