A WOMAN is to lead North Yorkshire Police for the first time in the force's history, it was announced today.

The county's police authority has appointed Della Cannings, 49, currently acting deputy chief constable of Cleveland Police, to succeed current North Yorkshire chief constable David Kenworthy, who is set to retire later this year.

She will become one of only four women chief constables out of the UK's 44 police forces, and the first in the North. Devon and Cornwall - where Ms Canning served for most of her career - Dorset, and Wiltshire constabularies all have women chief constables.

She said: "I am naturally very pleased that I have been appointed to lead this force. North Yorkshire Police has a fine reputation and David Kenworthy must take a lot of credit for that. I now look forward enormously to guiding this Force through the many challenges that face the police service over the next few years."

Her appointment will do no harm to the force's efforts to continue recovering from accusations of sexism.

In July last year, the force revealed it had two transsexual officers working for it, including Sergeant Nicola Lamb - formerly Christopher - who is based at police headquarters at Newby Wiske, Northallerton.

At a press conference revealing Ms Lamb's situation, Mr Kenworthy spoke of the "tremendous changes in the way that we view diversity" following "enormous criticism" which the force had suffered.

The force faced claims about bizarre initiations at Harrogate police station in the early 1990s and was rocked by accusations of a "canteen culture", which culminated in former Harrogate detective constable Libby Ashurst being paid a six-figure sum to settle an industrial tribunal out of court in 1996.

Ms Canning's appointment followed a recruitment campaign which culminated in a two-day selection process at the end of last week.

Police authority chairman Jane Kenyon said: "We expect the force to go from strength to strength under the new Chief's leadership and the Authority will be working closely with her to help to achieve that goal."

Ms Canning will hold a press conference about her appointment at County Hall, on Wednesday.

Born in Exeter, Devon, she joined Devon and Cornwall Constabulary in 1975 and rose from constable to chief superintendent with the force. She is Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) director and portfolio holder on organisational health, safety and welfare.

In January 2000, she was appointed assistant chief constable for management services with Cleveland Police.

The role involved dealing with the disciplinary aspects of the controversial Operation Lancet - the long-running inquiry into alleged malpractice in Middlesbrough CID.

Updated: 14:46 Monday, August 19, 2002