A FORMER Kidderminster beat bobby has returned to the division - as chief inspector.

Steve Pooler spent the first nine years of his career at the Kidderminster station before taking up a detective sergeant's post in Droitwich and later moving to Bromsgrove, Redditch, Worcester and Ludlow.

The father-of-two's most recent post was in the operations department at West Mercia police's Hindlip headquarters where he helped manage the 1998, 2000 and 2001 floods, National Front march and fuel protests.

Opportunity

"This posting represents a great opportunity to serve my adopted home town," said Chief Insp Pooler, who is originally from Telford.

"Policing in Wyre Forest has changed radically over the past two years. New methods have helped cut crime and the hugely supportive local community has helped bring about very real successes.

"I look forward to working with the Wyre Forest people to bring about further advances so that these communities of ours continue to be some of the safest places in the country to live, work and visit."

Chief Insp Pooler, a Kidderminster Harriers fan, has also supported youth football and been associated with St John's Tigers for the past 10 years.