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Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is delighted to welcome Tracey Purcell as the new Inspector for Basingstoke Rural and the district’s Priority Crime Team.
Tracey has more than 16-years’ service in policing, working in a variety of roles and has spent the majority of her career in frontline policing.
After graduating from university, Tracey began her career in 2008 when she volunteered as a Special Constable in Southampton, a role which she enjoyed for two years.
Insp Purcell then spent a further 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.
Tracey has great connections in this area and is looking forward on building those relationships with key people across the district 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 risk of harm and focuses on drug-related harm, child sexual and criminal exploitation, domestic abuse and most serious violence.
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, Tracey 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.
Tracey’s arrival means the Senior Leadership Team in Basingstoke has now been assembled. She joins District Commander, Chief Inspector Hayley O’Grady, and Town Inspector Charlie Ilderton whose joint focus remains on keeping Basingstoke and Deane a safe place to live, work and visit.
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.
“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.”