A FORMER police officer has returned to Cheshire to step up to the role as the new assistant chief constable.

Dad-of-one Darren Martland has spent his first week in the job after previously serving as assistant chief constable with Cumbria Constabulary for the past 18 months.

He previously worked in Cheshire from 1999 until 2006 where he worked in a number of areas, mainly in uniform operational roles in Halton and Macclesfield.

ACC Martland started his policing career in 1990, having graduated from Sheffield University.

The initial part of his career was spent in the Knowsley area where he completed a number of uniform and CID postings.

Following his spell in Cheshire, he returned to Merseyside Police in 2006, on promotion to the rank of Superintendent and was posted to Wirral.

In June 2015 he began his role of assistant chief constable at Cumbria Constabulary.

ACC Martland said: “When this post came up it was too good an opportunity to miss and I’m now looking forward to getting out and about and seeing the real challenges our officers face.

“Coming back to Cheshire is a nice feeling. It’s great to see the progress some staff have made and also meet lots of new people. I’ve received a very warm welcome from everyone.

“My first week has been busy and I’m delighted to be here and to be part of a great team.”