A HIGH-flying police officer who helped bring two brutal Burnley killers to justice has taken a top job in the division.

Superintendent Neil Smith is taking over as operations manager for Pennine Division from Steve Hartley, who is leaving to take up a post at Lancashire Police HQ in Hutton.

Supt Smith was formerly Detective Chief Inspector at Eastern Division, which covers Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley, then a superintendent in the Senior Investigating Officers team at police headquarters.

The 48-year-old, who lives near Blackburn with his wife and three children, has served with Lancashire Police for almost 30 years.

He joined the force in 1975 and has served as a sergeant in Nelson and Burnley, an inspector in Rawtenstall and as a detective in Eastern Division.

In 1998 while serving as a Det Chief Insp he helped solve the murder of Burnley man James McParland.

Mr McParland, known to his friends as Seamus, was found dead in a back street in Duke Bar, Burnley, on the eve of his 50th birthday.

Two local teenagers were later jailed for life for the killing.

Supt Smith will serve as second in command to divisional commander Chief Supt Jerry Graham.