LEAVING her post at Warrington South Police Station is a bittersweet move for inspector Sarah Heath.

As a born and bred Warringtonian, the 39-year-old from Lymm said she was proud to have served the place where she grew up but said she was ready to take on a new challenge after three and a half years at the helm.

Reflecting on her time at the Stockton Heath Police Station, she said: “I have had a great career and my new job is a great opportunity and challenge for me. But I am sad to be leaving behind an incredible team."

Sarah, who knew a career in policing was the right choice for her from an early age, stepped up to the role after a diverse career in the force.

She started work with Cheshire Police in 1999 in Warrington and has taken on a number of roles in uniformed response, Proactive CID and the Divisional Drugs Unit.

Sarah became a sergeant in 2004 and was transferred to eastern division covering the areas of Macclesfield, Wilmslow and Knutsford.

But the inspector post at Warrington South is one she has always aspired to and, looking back, she feels fortunate to have led such a strong team.

“It was a role I always wanted as I knew it would be a great place to work.

“I had an amazing team there. I have really mixed emotions about leaving but it’s a good challenge ahead.”

From the staff on the front desk to the PCSOs, Sarah puts the unit's success rate down to the proactive work of the team.

She said: “The work that has happened in Warrington South has just been brilliant.

"The PCSOs are so innovative in their community engagement. They are unbelievable.

“Because of that work we get a lot of community-led intelligence and it is because of that intelligence that our crime levels have reduced so much. It’s a good team effort.

“The mindset at Warrington South is not just going and dealing with the face value of something but they do a lot of referral work and extra work and that’s where the crime reductions have come in.”

Sarah started her new role as chief inspector of public participation on Monday with inspector Adam Waller taking over the reins at Warrington South.