WEST Somerset's new police inspector has taken up her post at Minehead police station, having taken over from former chief Carol Pearce.

Lisa Simpson, 37, lives in the district with her husband and young family, and will be working 30 hours a week as the head of West Somerset's 'safer, stronger, neighbourhood' teams.

Although she returns to duty from maternity leave, she has previously worked in Bristol, Weston-super-Mare and Taunton.

During her service she has worked in several different roles and departments starting as a police constable in Bristol, a response officer, a CID sergeant, a CID trainer and a temporary chief inspector in Taunton CID.

She said she was keen to have a "hands-on" approach and pledged to attend as many local meetings and community events as possible.

She said: "I am delighted to be taking on the role of neighbourhood inspector, and it is a privilege to be given this opportunity.

"I hope to build and develop upon the excellent work of my teams across the area and continue to ensure that our towns, villages and parishes receive the service that they need and deserve.

"I am looking forward to working with our partners and staff to ensure that our communities are completely satisfied with the service we provide, and are confident in our ability to deliver it."

Mrs Simpson said she was keen to encourage local people to get involved in the force's PACT (Partners and Communities Together) process to help inform police work.

She said that although the crime rate was low in the area and West Somerset was a very safe place to live and work, officers would not be complacent and would work hard to prevent, investigate and detect crime and anti-social behaviour.

"I aim to ensure that people feel safe in their community and will keep them up-to-date of our work, especially work that is in direct response to particular issues that concern or affect them," she said.

Mrs Simpson said she was committed to ensuring officers targeted people who made life a misery for others, particularly those who were involved in recurrent anti-social behaviour.

She added: "In the past year, crime has fallen by nine per cent in the Minehead area – that's 163 less victims of crime.

"By working together, we can build on this success.

"I encourage people from across the sector to get in touch with me and let me know of any issues or concerns they might have or ways in which we can better communicate with our residents."

Local police teams can be contacted by telephoning 0845 4567000, by logging-on to the Avon and Somerset Constabulary website at http://www.avonandsomerset">www.avonandsomerset. police.uk/inyourarea, or by emailing ssnminehead@ avonandsomerset.police.uk for Minehead,

Details of neighbourhood police priorities and dates of beat surgeries and PACT meetings are also available on the website.