YORK and Selby police chief John Lacy has been officially appointed the area's police commander.

Mr Lacy, who has been temporarily in charge of North Yorkshire Police's Central Area, has been promoted to the rank of Chief Superintendent and appointed to the post.

He has spent the majority of his career in the York and Selby areas, having previously served as the area's operations commander and head of CID.

He said: "I am delighted to be able to continue with my work in Central Area. When I first joined the force in the late '60's, uniform policing was the bedrock of the police service. Now, with the added impetus of the Chief Constable's Thrust programme for change, I look forward to that emphasis returning. I want to see officers working and patrolling within the community.

"I have enjoyed tremendous support from many organisations and partnership agencies in both York and Selby and with their continuing help I will be doing all I can to tackle anti-social behaviour which has such an adverse effect on people's lives, and to disrupt crime and criminal activity."

Mr Lacy joined the former York and North East Yorkshire Police as a cadet in 1969. He is married with two children and lives in York.

Updated: 09:37 Friday, May 02, 2003