DAME Elizabeth Neville has been sworn in as the new High Sheriff for Wiltshire.

She undertook her declaration and acceptance at Wiltshire Police headquarters in Devizes, taking over from Robert Floyd.

Dame Elizabeth was in the Metropolitan Police for more than 30 years and was chief constable of Wiltshire Police from 1997 to 2004, receiving the Queen’s Police Medal in the 1996 New Year honours.

She said: “I feel very privileged to be the High Sheriff of Wiltshire and Swindon for the next year. The High Sheriff is the Queen's representative for law and order in the county, which is very important to me having been chief constable.

“I will do what I can to support the criminal justice system and to promote crime prevention.”

Traditional duties of the High Sheriff include attendance on any visits of member of the Royal family, being prepared to be the returning officer at parliamentary elections, ensuring the well-being and protection of high court judges when they visit the county and presenting court awards.

She will be supporting the charities Crimebeat, the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust and the Devizes Canoe Club.