A TOP policeman involved in the Suffolk murders investigation is set to leave the force for a new post in Bedfordshire.John Fletcher, 43, chief superintendent at Suffolk Constabulary, is due to start his new appointment as assistant chief constable for Bedfordshire force next month.

A TOP policeman involved in the Suffolk murders investigation is set to leave the force for a new post in Bedfordshire.

John Fletcher, 43, chief superintendent at Suffolk Constabulary, is due to start his new appointment as assistant chief constable for Bedfordshire force next month.

He claims that one of his greatest achievements since joining the constabulary in 1984 has been his involvement in the high profile investigation into the murders and the subsequent conviction of Steve Wright, who was jailed for life for killing Tania Nicol, 19, Gemma Adams, 25, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24, and Annette Nicholls, 29, in 2006.

Ch Supt Fletcher had a vital role in the aftermath of the killings of five women, including the implementation of a homicide and community reassurance action plan, which saw officers deployed en-masse to the red-light area. Working with other organisations, he helped to reassure the public that Ipswich was still a safe place to live.

He said: “I had a key role to play in that 2006 investigation and in terms of achievements, bringing Steve Wright to a successful conviction is one of them.

“I think Ipswich has recovered from the issues that were prevalent at the time and what struck me was the speed in which the different communities returned to normality. What is different is the approach that we now take to tackling street prostitution.

“Together with the council, and other organisations, we have developed a joined-up approach to dealing with women who are vulnerable.”

Ch Supt Fletcher, who lives in Bury St Edmunds, began as a constable and worked his way through the ranks to reach his current position. Apart from two brief spells at Bury St Edmunds police station, much of his work has been in Ipswich and another of his achievements he cites is reducing the number of burglaries in the town.

In his new role, he will be concentrating on reducing serious and organised crime.

He said: “Bedfordshire presents a new challenge as although it is a similar size force, it is a different policing environment.

“It will be the people I will miss in Suffolk-not just those in the constabulary but all those I have worked with from the other organisations.”

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