THE woman in temporary charge of Cleveland Police is adamant she is not taking over a force in crisis.

Temporary Chief Constable Jacqui Cheer intends to boost morale among officers during a “unique” period in the force’s history.

Mrs Cheer, who led the investigation into the murders of five women in the Ipswich area in 2006, has taken over the force while the investigation into suspended chief constable Sean Price continues.

She has been seconded to the £133,000-a-year role from Suffolk Police, where she was deputy chief constable.

It comes after the arrest in August of Mr Price and Deputy Chief Constable Derek Bonnard as part of the Operation Sacristy corruption probe. The pair have always maintained they have done nothing wrong.

Both men have since been bailed until April and suspended from their posts by Cleveland Police Authority.

Speaking yesterday as she took over the leadership of the force, she reminded officers and criminals that it is business as usual.

“This is not a force in crisis,”

she said. “Forces that are in crisis require a radical change and this force is not one of them.

“We will be doing some things differently, but I believe that continuing to focus on reducing crime and neighbourhood policing is the right thing to do.”

Mrs Cheer joined Suffolk as assistant chief constable in 2006. She previously spent 22 years with Essex Police and at the Home Office Reform Unit.

She commanded Operation Sumac, the investigation into the murders of five women in the Ipswich area at the end of 2006, and was promoted to deputy chief constable in November 2007.

Her new role will see her attempting to boost morale among the rank and file through this difficult period.

She said: “This is a unique time for the force and we have to make sure that officers and members of staff are supported throughout this period.

I hope to be able to take away the pressure from the staff and take it on myself.

The public need to be reassured that it is business as usual for the force.”

Police authority chairman Peter Race said he was confident that Mrs Cheer would provide the support and leadership needed to ensure that the force continues to move forward.

He said: “I know that Mrs Cheer shares that commitment and that she wants to take forward the vision which has seen the transformation of the Cleveland force, making us one of the most successful in the country in driving down crime and raising public confidence.”