CONTROVERSIAL cop Superintendent Steve Westcott is on the move.

The second-in-command of Bury police is to take over the command of the Operational Communications Branch based in Greater Manchester Police's headquarters at Chester House.

The 50-year-old father-of-three, who lives in Tottington, was posted to Bury in September 2000 and was given the task of heading the division's police operations unit.

However, within weeks of his arrival, Mr Westcott hit the headlines after using an expert surveillance team to spy on his own officers. The unit kept tabs on two female PCs as they went about their normal duties around the town centre. An investigation was then launched after angry officers complained that the operation smacked of "Big Brother" tactics.

Chief Superintendent Phil Hollowood jumped to his deputy's defence, explaining that the principles behind the exercise, known as Anatomy of a Day and designed to monitor how staff are deployed during day-to-day police work, had been approved and supported by senior officers.

However, Mr Hollowood refused to comment on Mr Westcott's decision to use undercover surveillance detectives to spy on the Bury constables.

And only recently, Mr Westcott caused outrage in Ramsbottom when he accused residents of having too high expectations of the local police force.

The outspoken officer described the village as a "peaceful haven of tranquillity" and dismissed calls for extra beat bobbies to tackle a mini-crimewave.

Of his departure from Bury, Mr Westcott told the Bury Times: "I am fortunate to have been part of an excellent team on Bury division and I leave secure in the knowledge that that same team will continue to provide value for money to the people of this borough."

The former commander of Bury police, Chief Superintendent Eric Hewitt, who served the division in the early 1990s, is to retire from Greater Manchester Police.

Mr Hewitt currently heads policing in Oldham and has announced he will leave the post on February 28. He has completed 35 years of service.