A senior law enforcement official from India has been appointed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan as the next United Nations Civilian Police Adviser in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the first woman to hold the job.

Kiran Bedi was also the first female police officer in India, when she joined the police service in 1972. Prior to her current appointment she served as Special Commissioner for intelligence with the Delhi Police and has also served as Joint Commissioner for Police Training and Inspector General of Prisons in Delhi.

Ms. Bedi will take over from the acting Adviser, Antero Lopes of Portugal.