New top cop

NORTHERN Constabulary chief superintendent Julian Innes has been named as police commander for the highlands and islands in the new Scotland-wide police force.

Innes is one of 14 chief superintendents chosen to oversee local policing across Scotland.

Taking up the post, he said it was his job to maintain the highlands and islands detection rates, which are some of the highest in the UK.

Innes will work under deputy chief constable Rose Fitzpatrick whose job it is to ensure that the single police force continues to have a clearly defined local identity.

“The local commanders will work closely with communities to reflect their concerns in highly-localised policing plans – one for every council ward area in Scotland,” Fitzpatrick said.

“They will be the recognisable and visible faces leading on local policing from Shetland to the Solway Firth, across each council area in Scotland.”