THE new year will see a new inspector, with more than his share of local knowledge, heading Alcester police.

Insp Tim Bailey, who spent time as a constable and sergeant in the town, will take over the helm from Mark Ritchie this month.

Mr Ritchie leaves the position after just five months and will now be returning to his previous post with Leamington Spa police.

He succeeded Insp Sarah Goodall, who was moved on after 16 months to work in Stratford as a strategic development officer for Warwickshire Police.

And he expressed his regret at having to leave a post he enjoyed after quite a short stretch of time.

He said: "I've really liked my time here, it's been an extremely good learning experience.

"It is very sad to leave and I really do wish I could stay."

Insp Bailey, who lives in the Alcester area and has been an officer for 19 years, will be transferring from police headquarters in Leek Wootton and said he was keen to get back to the real roots of policing an area.

"I've worked in many different roles during my time, including CID, the traffic department and the drugs squad.

"Now I'm very much looking forward to focusing on real community policing in Alcester.

"Members of the public may not recognise detectives in jeans or a police car speeding past, they want to see police they can recognise in the area they live and I think they should be given this type of community policing."

Insp Bailey is also keen for people to e-mail him with any queries about Alcester police issues on:

tim.bailey@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk