A MAN who led the crack police TAG team is the new head of Leigh Police.

Superintendent David Edge's near 30 years experience of policing includes being in charge of the special Tactical Aid Group operation when Moors Murderer Myra Hindley returned to Saddleworth Moor.

Whether its being tooled-up for terrorist duty, teaching self-defence, swimming or lecturing on law at training school Mr Edge has experienced it all since he started out as a Police Cadet at Salford.

Being particularly keen on youth activities the sporting Super is banking on locals backing him in making police and community relations a real team effort.

And the man who worked some of Manchester's roughest beats and was deputy commander of GMP's Tactical Aid Group GMP's admits first impressions are optimistic.

"I have been given great support by the people who are here already," said Mr Edge, 48, who also worked as physical training and law instructor at Bruce Training Centre.

"And I have been tremendously impressed by the commitment and enthusiasm of groups like Leigh Business Partnership. I take my hat off for Gordon Jackson and his committee. I would like to do what bit I can to help the area's regeneration."

On Tuesday night Supt Edge was at the second meeting of Westleigh Estates Residents and Tenants Association - formed by people intent on cutting crime in their area.

Keen to hear people's viewpoint he said before the meeting:"There are no easy solutions, but through combined efforts I'm sure we can address some of the problems."

And he asked people to carefully consider priorities before criticising police action.

"People expect instant response - we don't have enough officers to do that in all cases - we have to try to judge which has priority and attend to those first," he explained.

Promoted to Sgt 20 years ago he became an Inspector in 1984 and after a sopell with Salford Traffic Unit returned to TAG working from Longsight and Openshaw then moved to the unit HQ as Deputy Commander.

He became Chief Inspector in 1990, based at Manchester Central and later Salford North. Since October 1994 he has put his vast experience to good use at Sedgley Park training school.

Having swum and played water polo for Old Trafford, Stretford and the British Police he helped form the GMP basketball team which won the force championship eight years on the run.

For 10 years he managed the British Police basketball team and currently serves on the committee.

"I think sport has a tremendous part to play in the development of all young people and ius also about older people taking on organisation. I'm all for the development of kids and will do anything I can to help," he promised.

Twenty seven years married he and his wife, Cindy, have two sons and live in Sale. Nick, 24 , and 6'6" tall is a top grade basketball player.

He is half-way through his probation period having left the Royal Air Force to join the Police in GMP's 'C' Division.

School student Jon, 16, also shares his father and brother's sporting interest. He plays basketball and soccer and is a keen athlete.

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