Basingstoke and Deane welcomes new District Commander

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary is delighted to welcome Chief Inspector Hayley O’Grady as the new District Commander for Basingstoke and Deane.

Chief Inspector O’Grady replaces Chief Inspector Scott Johnson, who has become the new District Commander for the New Forest.

Hayley has a wealth of experience and has joined the district from neighbouring Test Valley, where she had been District Commander since January 2023.

Ch Insp O’Grady stepped into the world of policing in 2001, beginning her career in the New Forest before spending 21 years working in a variety of roles in Southampton.

She was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in 2014 and became an Inspector in 2019.

Ch Insp O’Grady has a broad range of operational experience, including 18 years as a public order officer. She has also worked as a Custody Sergeant and became a Tactical Firearms Commander in 2022.

Hayley helped the Metropolitan Police during the 2011 riots in London and has worked to keep the public safe during large public events including international football matches, the 2014 NATO Summit in Wales and the 2012 Olympic Games in Weymouth.  

Outside of work, Hayley likes to play netball and enjoys camping trips with her husband and two daughters.

Chief Inspector O’Grady said: “I’m delighted to be taking over as the new District Commander for Basingstoke and Deane.

“Basingstoke and Deane is an exciting place to police. The district has its complexities with a large town and a vast rural landscape, but I see that as a huge opportunity to make a positive impact to a large number of different people.

“I feel I have the experience which will enable me to hit the ground running. I have spent 21 years working a variety of roles in Southampton and have gained invaluable experience over the past 27 months as the District Commander for Test Valley.

“Now, my role is to ensure we are targeting and responding to the biggest risks in Basingstoke and Deane and my priorities are to tackle serious violence, sexual offences, domestic abuse and rural crime.

“I want to ensure that we continue to have a cohesive district policing team working in tandem together, including those from Neighbourhoods, Response and Investigations.

“I was pleased to see that we already have well-established links with relevant partners and I’m excited about growing these relationships to ensure we are all singing from the same hymn sheet.”

Ch Insp O’Grady added: “Please continue to report any incidents to us, so we are aware of what is occurring in the areas in which you live.

“If you haven’t already completed a Let's Talk survey, please take a moment to do so. Let’s Talk is our community survey initiative that aims to understand the needs of our local communities and enables you to share any concerns with our officers.

“It’s a really important tool, which is already helping us to better understand the public’s concerns, and subsequently work with partners to effectively address the issues raised.”

https://www.hampshire.police.uk/police-forces/hampshire-constabulary/areas/campaigns/lets-talk/