New South-Staffordshire and Cannock chief inspector talks about future of policing in the region
An officer with 22 years' experience has been appointed to spearhead the Cannock and South Staffordshire local policing teams.
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Chief inspector Al Lyford started his post as Commander on Monday, April 28, and has already been busy tackling anti-social behaviour and serious crime in the area.
Mr Lyford, who started with Staffordshire Police in 2003, has been active in a number of departments over his career, starting as a constable in Tamworth before moving to various detective roles in Cannock and South Staffordshire.
One of the investigations that Chief Inspector Lyford on resulted in a combined 46-year prison sentence for two men who killed another man in Stoke-on-Trent in 2019.
He has also worked on an operation that targeted criminal gangs cultivating drugs across Staffordshire, which resulted in 10 people being charged and 10 cannabis factories being closed down.
On the new leads' first day, his local officers were able to arrest three people on suspicion of a number of thefts at the McArthurGlenn Designer Outlet in Cannock. The investigation uncovered a total of 14 car keys and tools linked to vehicle theft, which is still ongoing.
Taking up his new role, Mr Lyford said: "I’m really pleased to be starting as Chief Inspector and taking the reins from the previous Commanders, Matt Walker and Tim Norbury, who have already carried out some brilliant work to reduce harm in local communities.
"I’ve got significant experience in handling complex criminal investigations against serious criminals in Cannock and south Staffordshire, as well as working with partners to safeguard the vulnerable. I’m excited to use this experience for the greater good of the communities in these areas."
The Chief Constable also detailed the issues that the future of policing in the area, saying that they will 'continue tackling' the issues that matter the most to residents.
He said: "By working closely with my deputies, Inspector Lee Walker and Nicola Brookes, and all of the hard-working officers we have across Cannock and south Staffordshire, we’re going to continue tackling the issues that matter most to residents and businesses.
"This includes burglary, theft, serious violence and anti-social behaviour, to name a few."
The chief inspector will be holding his first community engagement event as commander on a date to be announced.
