New police chief for Worthing and Adur

They demanded stability after voicing disappointment over the rapid turnover in top officers following the exit last month of former chief inspector James Asser after just a year in charge.

Now chief inspector Ian Pollard has been appointed district commander of Worthing and Adur.

Ch Insp Pollard, a 41-year-old father-of-two, joined Sussex Police in 1988 and has for the past four-and-a-half years been head of Brighton and Hove CID.

He said he was looking forward to the challenge, adding: “Having just arrived, I have no plans to move on.

“I think there is a willingness for people to stay in position and be allowed sufficient time to work with the townspeople.”

When Ch Insp Asser moved to Sussex Police’s Lewes headquarters, borough council leader Paul Yallop said: “I think he has done a good job but people are concerned that we keep getting them coming and going.

“It is very difficult to build a relationship and I know a number of councillors feel this way.

“We have just had a couple of meetings with him and all of a sudden he is going.

“We wish him well in his future career but it would be nice to have someone a bit longer.”

Ch insp Pollard, who had also served at Crawley and Gatwick, said: “I am looking forward to the challenge of working on another area and in taking up this new and different role.”