He fears people are more likely to see drug deals blatantly carried out on the streets now than they were 10 years ago.

Detective Chief Inspector Richard John said: 'I want to tackle the most harmful people in Portsmouth. That includes insurgent drug dealers coming from outside the city.

'The human cost caused by drug dealers has got to be the main problem for us.

'We've got people who do not live in the area coming in to commit crime.

'Our response has to be proactive and robust and reassure the public we are doing something about it.

'We want to send the message that people coming to Portsmouth to sell drugs or encourage people here to sell drugs will not be tolerated.

'If the public report it we will do something about it.'

Det Ch Insp John is the most senior detective from a minority ethnic background in Hampshire police and he is the first non-white officer who has headed Portsmouth CID, but he insists his race is not a factor.

He said: 'My ethnicity makes no real difference. When you are from London, as I am, ethnicity is not an issue. I think I'm more comfortable dealing with people of ethnicity because of my background.

'I don't feel I've had to overcome any hurdles, but I am very proud of what I've achieved.'

Det Ch Insp John joined Hampshire police as a new recruit in December 1992.

The former army medic was looking for a secure career with the potential for hard work and promotion that allowed him to help society. His first jobs were as a PC and detective constable in Portsmouth.

He later worked as a detective sergeant at Gosport, as staff officer to former assistant chief constable Colin Smith, in covert operations and immigration crime – heading up Operation Lynx to stop people-trafficking in the country, and with the serious and organised crime squad and Special Branch.

He said: 'I feel pride at coming to somewhere where as I worked as a detective constable, and now coming back as crime manager and in a position where I can fight battles. It is a nice feeling.'

The 43-year-old Tottenham Hotspur fan lives in Fareham with his wife and daughter.