A NEW police inspector has taken the helm in Darlington.

Caroline Dawson has been appointed as neighbourhood inspector for Darlington, taking over from Mick Button who has moved to work at the force’s headquarters in Aykley Heads, Durham.

Inspector Dawson grew up in Darlington where she attended Hurworth School and the town’s Queen Elizabeth Sixth Form College before joining the force in 2000, aged 18.

She began working as a response officer before being promoted to sergeant in Spennymoor, and later qualifying as a detective in 2005.

The 33-year-old was temporarily promoted to neighbourhood inspector for Darlington before joining the safeguarding team as detective inspector, and later working in the serious crime team.

“I grew up in Darlington, and I went to school and college in Darlington, so I know the area well and I know the criminals well, as well as the local haunts where you might find them,” she said.

“I was a witness to a crime when I was 17, so was involved with the police in giving witness statements.

“I thought it was something I’d really like to do, and never thought I would get accepted straightaway.”

Throughout her career, Insp Dawson has worked on a number of high profile cases, including the murder of Polish farm worker Danuta Domagalska, who was found in a shallow grave where she worked at New Moor Farm, Walworth Gate, near Darlington, in 2011.

She also managed the force’s Caught on Camera scheme – a public web page which features CCTV pictures of people police want to track down - which has become almost as successful as forensics in catching criminals.

The mother-of-one said she is looking forward to meeting residents in Darlington and making a difference in the community.

“It is about getting out there, meeting people, meeting the community and understanding what the issues are,” she said.

“We will be working on the high volume crime which impacts on the residents and businesses in Darlington.

“We want to understand what people need. As the force is financially stretched we have to make sure what we deliver is exactly what people want.”

She said there has recently been a spate of sneak-in burglaries in the town and urged residents to lock their doors and windows when leaving properties unattended.

“People are leaving their premises unlocked when they are going to work. People will try every door and every window until they find one that is open," she said.