AVON and Somerset Police Authority are recruiting a new addition to their team - a fourth Assistant Chief Constable.

The new post will play a key role in the force's ongoing performance improvement strategy, and will enable the appointment of an Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) with specific responsibility for the policing in Bristol.

Dr Moira Hamlin, chairman of Avon and Somerset Police Authority, said: "Bristol district's performance has improved significantly since it was restructured in 2004, but both the police authority and the Chief Constable feel now is the time to move this improvement on to the next level.

"We believe that having someone at a strategic level specifically involved in the operational running of Bristol district will help achieve our ambition of being one of the top performing forces in the country."

Since the restructuring of Bristol from three police districts to one in April 2004, detection rates have improved from 14 per cent to nearly 25 per cent. There have also been significant reductions in the levels of robbery and vehicle crime.

Chief Constable Colin Port said: "Improving the quality of service we provide to our communities remains our focus. With that will come improved performance.

"Recruiting an additional ACC will strengthen the constabulary and provide additional strategic leadership to help drive forward those improvements."

The fourth ACC post is due to be advertised later this month with the plan to have the new person in post by May 2008.