SPEEDING and anti-social behaviour in Shrewsbury is the subject of a tough clampdown by a new police chief.

David Shaw, who this month succeeded Paul West as chief constable of West Mercia Police, also vowed to minimise burglaries and curtail drug crime.

Outlining his vision for Shropshire, he told Shrewsbury Living: “Speeding in Shrewsbury comes up time and time again, especially in smaller towns and villages. Each fatal crash is a tragedy and something we are working hard to conquer.

“Shropshire Council has been a big help in re-engineering the roads.”

He also pledged to tackle low-level nuisance behaviour, adding: “It is the kind of crime that affects your quality of life.

“The crimes appear quite minor but they have a drip-drip effect and people do not want to leave their homes as a result.”

Mr Shaw began his career with West Midlands Police and progressed to detective chief inspector.

For two years he was a commander at the Queen’s Road operational command unit in Aston, Birmingham, and was selected to be assistant chief constable in 2005.

A year later he took on the crime portfolio, incorporating counter terrorism and also territorial command for the Coventry and Solihull boroughs.

He joined West Mercia as deputy chief constable in September 2008 and began his role as chief constable on August 1.

He is also the senior responsible officer for the National Ballistics Intelligence Service, chair of the DNA Operations Group, and the lead for the Association of Chief Police Officers on election fraud issues nationally.

He added: “This force faces considerable challenges in light of the financial situation.

“However I'm sure that together with the excellent team we have in West Mercia and working with the Police Authority we can continue to maintain West Mercia as one of the safest places in the country in which to live and work.”

Paul West had served as chief constable since 2003 and was the longest serving chief constable in the force’s history.

He said: “Having worked very closely with him for almost three years, I know that David has the best interests of everyone in the force and in the communities that we serve at the forefront of his mind in all that he does.”

Mr Shaw lives in Malvern, Worcestershire, with his wife Juliette and three children aged 20, 18 and 16. In his spare time he enjoys mountain biking, competing in triathlons and playing the guitar and drums.