A TOP Police officer joined bobbies on the beat in north Herefordshire.
Assistant Chief Constable Margaret Wood visited Leominster Police Station before going on patrol at Leintwardine with PC Andy Varden and in Leominster town centre with Community Support Officer Donna Jones.
She was there to welcome PC Varden to his new post. He is the new police beat manager for the rural area surrounding Leominster, though he is already a familiar face in north Herefordshire.
Based at Leominster since 2002 and working as a response officer from the Ryelands Road police station, he will draw on his experience of the area as he takes on the neighbourhood policing role.
His appointment follows the departure of PC Beth Wells, who has joined Hereford CID.
PC Varden began his policing career with the Thames Valley force in 1992 and transferred to West Mercia in August 2002.
He has recently passed the basic referees course - appropriate as the Kingsland-based Luctonians Rugby Club is in his new patch.
"I'm looking forward to expanding my knowledge of the rural community and getting to know more people as part of the neighbourhood policing programme," he said.
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