ONE of East Lancashire's top police officers is retiring after almost 40 years' service in Lancashire Constabulary in the Burnley area.

Chief Superintendent Mike Griffin, 58, is to leave his post as head of the Pennine Division, which covers Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, in mid-November.

He will hand over to Superintendent Ian McPherson, who is operations manager at Western Division.

Mr Griffin has served in the Burnley area since 1960 when he began his career as a constable.

Within six years he was promoted to sergeant during which time he received a Commendation for Bravery for arresting two prisoners under difficult conditions.

In 1971, he was made inspector before becoming chief inspector in April, 1983. He was promoted to superintendent in 1986 and has served as Divisional Commander since 1994.

Mr Griffin said: "The service we offer today has evolved tremendously since I joined the force.

"At that time there were no radios, telecommunications or sophisticated forensics. Policing is the same in the sense that we want to do the best for the public but we are just better equipped to do that now."

Mr Griffin plans to spend more time with his family after retirement and develop his interests in caravanning, photography, motorcycling and computers.

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