New police chief takes up reins

A NEW police commander for east Suffolk has started work this week.Chief Superintendent Mark Cordell will cover towns such as Ipswich, Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Leiston, Beccles and Lowestoft.

A NEW police commander for east Suffolk has started work this week.

Chief Superintendent Mark Cordell will cover towns such as Ipswich, Felixstowe, Woodbridge, Leiston, Beccles and Lowestoft.

He has been a police officer in Suffolk for 28 years, serving in various locations with the majority of his time spent in the west of the county.

The 47-year-old, who lives near Bury St Edmunds with his wife and family, said: 'I am really looking forward to the exciting challenge of commanding the east area. Having previously commanded the west area I feel I now have the full set.'

He added: 'Our recently revamped Safer Neighbourhood Teams are focussing on delivering community policing and I want us to be in tune with what our communities want from us.

'I do have concerns about the amount of time and resources that we are spending on policing the night time economy. As a matter of priority I will be looking to ascertain exactly what this is costing the east area and will be looking to engage with local authorities and licensed establishments to work together to reduce this commitment if at all possible.'