Former RAF chief Sir Clive Loader is due to officially assume the "enormous responsibility" of overseeing policing in Leicestershire and Rutland tomorrow.
Sir Clive, the recently retired RAF chief who won last week's election, will now hold Leicestershire Police to account on its performance in fighting crime and addressing the public's concerns.
Yesterday, Leicestershire Police Authority, which has served the same role of scrutinising the force since 1995, was officially disbanded to make way for Sir Clive.
The 17 members of the authority yesterday attended their final meeting before Sir Clive takes office tomorrow.
The authority's members included councillors, magistrates and other political independents.
Sir Clive told them: "I never made any bones about this during the campaign, you are going to be a hard act to follow."
After the meeting at police headquarters in Enderby, Sir Clive said he was determined to listen to people across the whole area.
He said: "I was elected to represent the people and to ensure their voices are heard – and I will do that.
"I was also elected to help drive down crime and to make the streets safer. That is what I will do to the best of my ability.
"Once things have settled down, I don't think I will need to be at force headquarters for more than a couple of days a week.
"I am looking forward to being invited to meet people across the area, whether it's councils, parish meetings, Neighbourhood Watch, the National Farmers' Union, schools or universities."
Leicestershire Police Authority chairman Barrie Roper, a Conservative county councillor in Rutland, said: "We go out with our heads held high and members of the authority should feel extremely proud of what they have achieved.
"The responsibility Sir Clive has taken on is enormous. We have left a strong legacy for the commissioner to build on and wish him every success."
Councillor Max Hunt, a Labour Loughborough county and borough councillor, said: "We will be supporting the police commissioner in the difficult job he will have to do.
"We will also be holding him to account throughout his time in office."
Sir Clive won the race to become Leicestershire's first police and crime commissioner last Friday, a day after just 16 per cent of those eligible to take part in the election voted.
Sir Clive, the Conservative candidate, was backed by 64,661 voters.
The job comes with an annual salary of £70,000.
He will now work with Chief Constable Simon Cole and other senior officers to draw up a three-year policing plan, which will come into effect from April. He will also work with the force to cut its spending by millions of pounds.
The commissioner will himself be held to account by a police and crime panel, made up of councillors from across the force area.
