POLICE in Mid Suffolk are set to ring the changes in the New Year.The current system of working within six West Suffolk sectors will be transformed from January with officers working within three districts - Mid Suffolk, Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury.

POLICE in Mid Suffolk are set to ring the changes in the New Year.

The current system of working within six West Suffolk sectors will be transformed from January with officers working within three districts - Mid Suffolk, Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury.

Three new district commander posts have been created to oversee each area with Inspector Rick Munns at the helm in Mid Suffolk.

He will move from his current post overseeing major crime at force headquarters in Martlesham, to a position which will see him policing a large area of west Suffolk.

He said: “I think the main challenge, apart from the main town of Stowmarket, will be the sheer size of the land mass.

“I think it's really about delivery and trying to deliver neighbourhood policing, the thrust will be to try to continue to reassure the communities in rural areas which can sometimes be difficult in terms of visible signs.”

Chief superintendent Martin Cordell, western area commander, said the scheme was about giving the current sector commanders more focus on policing rather than paperwork.

He said: “What we are conscious of is over the last seven years there has been the increasing burden of bureaucracy being put on commanders and inspectors. Sergeants have been spending too long in the police station dealing with administrative bureaucracy.

“This will free up their time to make sure their constables are meeting the priorities of the area.

“It won't change a great deal with regard to the public but it will lead to an improved performance.”

Ch supt Cordell said the new system would also assist with partnership work as police would be divided into the same areas as the district councils.

Insp Munns said he would be looking to work closely with these partners across the district.

The current Mid Suffolk sector commander Les King will stay in post.

N What do you think of the plans? Write to: Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.