‘Local lad’ appointed as assistant police chief (From The Advertiser Series)

‘Local lad’ appointed as assistant police chief

9:40am Friday 29th January 2010

• Print
• Email
• Share

A POLICE officer who has worked his way up through the ranks in County Durham has been confirmed as the new assistant chief constable of the county’s police force.

A meeting of the Durham Police Authority’s Chief Officers Appointment committee on Monday confirmed that Michael Banks would fill the role.

The appointment confirms the position he has held on a temporary basis with the force for several years – apart from a period when he was seconded to the Government Office for the North- East to work on counter terrorism and other projects.

Police authority chairman Councillor Peter Thompson said: “Mr Banks has been doing the job on a temporary basis for a while.

“We are delighted to appoint him.

He is a local lad who is committed to the people of County Durham.

“That has been demonstrated by his coming up through the ranks of Durham Constabulary.

He is one of those individuals in life I haven’t heard any adverse comments about. He is highly respected.”

Mr Banks was born in Wallsend and attended Whitley Bay High School before going to Sheffield University, where he was awarded a classics degree.

The day after graduating in 1985, he joined the Durham force and pounded the beat in Consett.

He was commended by the chief constable more than once and received a Royal Humane Society award for rescuing a man from a bridge. Rising through the ranks, he went to east Durham in 1998 as operations manager and two years later headed the force’s criminal justice department.

In 2003, he took over as divisional commander in Darlington and later assumed command of the newly-created southern area, responsible for the management and welfare of more than 700 officers and police staff.

He has also served on the staff of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary. He lives with his family in the Durham area.

• Print
• Email
• Share