THE police chief whose job it is to catch Lancashire's criminal gang bosses retires next week.

Detective Superintendent Robert Helm, 49, will call it a day after a 32-year career.

He will be replaced by Detective Superintendent Dave Brian as head of Lancashire's Serious and Organised Crime Unit.

Mr Helm had held the role since July 2002 and has overseen many major investigations in the county.

Over the past four years a particular focus of Mr Helm's has been crack-downs on drug dealers as part of an initiative called Operation Nimrod.

In that time, 600 people have been prosecuted for drugs offences, resulting in 120 convictions and 1,200 years of jail sentences being handed out.

Mr Helm said: "I am tremendously proud to have held a leading role in this successful operation.

"Operation Nimrod has developed into a very sophisticated response to communities who suffer from drug dealing and associated crime.

"Yes, it is about sending people to prison those dealers who make vast profits from users should go to prison, and over 1250 years imprisonment has been meted out to them.

"But, it is also about getting the users into treatment and the more we can help them the better our prospects for sustainable success."

Mr Helm joined the force in 1975 and was awarded the Queen's gallantry medal in 1977.

He began his ascent up the ranks in 1989 when he was appointed a detective sergeant.

He became an inspector in 1995 and a chief inspector shortly after before being promoted to superintendent.