05/08/2025
Gary Mason
PCC says recruitment is a major priority and she has urged new chief to ensure the officers already funded are on the streets as quickly as possible.
Alexis Boon joins the force from the Metropolitan Police, where he was a DAC in charge of local policing, specialist crime and counter terrorism. The appointment follows the announcement in April that previous incumbent Scott Chilton was retiring with immediate effect and the IOPC announced that an ongoing investigation into his conduct had widened to include an additional allegation of potential conflict of interest relating to a workplace relationship after he became chief of Hampshire.
Mr Chilton had remained in post with the “full support” of his PCC Donna Jones after the initial allegation was made in February before stepping down after a second matter was referred at the end of March.
The new chief constable who started his career in a county force said: “I want us to focus on listening to and working with our communities to fight the crime that really matters to them and keeping people safe. Engaging with purpose will help us prevent crime and bring more criminals to justice.”
According to PCC Jones, during the Police and Crime Panel meeting that led to confirmation of Chief Constable Boon’s appointment, he talked about the need for strong relationships with partners to deliver effective problem-solving, his passion for fighting crime in communities and reducing violence against women and girls.
He also recognised the force had been through significant change over the past two years.
PCC Donna Jones said: “I’m delighted Alexis has begun his new role as chief constable. The constabulary has gone from strength to strength in recent years. That progression has been highlighted in the recent PEEL report by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) and I’ve tasked Alexis with continuing those improvements.
“We are a large force but we are still under capacity for the amount of officers we have for our communities.
“Recruitment is a major priority and I’ve urged Alexis to ensure the officers I have already funded are on our streets as quickly as possible.
“The new chief constable is joining us at one of our busiest times of the year. His wealth of experience running police operations for the Metropolitan Police will be a huge advantage to us.
“We are both clear that our aim, going forward, is to drive up charge rates, protect communities and get more bobbies on the beat.
CC Boon started his career with Surrey Police in 1998, undertaking uniform and detective duties as a constable and sergeant.
He then transferred to the Metropolitan Police where he worked as a detective in investigative and proactive roles across London, achieving a number of promotions before moving to the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command.
During this time, he led the strategic response to terrorism associated with the conflict in Syria and led hundreds of Counter Terrorism and national security operations across the UK and internationally, including mitigation of high threat terrorist attack planning.
Between 2017 and 2020 he oversaw the operational CT policing response to the terrorist attacks in London and overseas involving British nationals.
In June 2021 he was appointed temporary Commander for Central Specialist Crime, running specialist crime and proactive capabilities including the Flying Squad.
He was also awarded the QPM for distinguished service in the 2021 Queen’s birthday honours.
On promotion to substantive Commander, he led local policing in south London; with responsibility for leading 7,500 officers.
As Deputy Assistant Commissioner for local policing, he led over 20,000 officers and staff in local policing on the 12 Basic Command Units in London.
He is also an accredited Multi-Agency Gold Commander.