Top officer joins the Met

Mr Hitchcock joined Lancashire Police in 1977

One of Lancashire's top police officers is leaving the force to join the Met.

Superintendent Alfred Hitchcock joined Lancashire Police in 1977 and was more recently involved in the force's race and community relations.

Mr Hitchcock will join the Met as a commander - the equivalent of Assistant Chief Constable.

The 44-year-old first served as a constable in Preston and South Ribble, before he was promoted to sergeant in 1985.

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He went on to be an inspector at Chorley and served with the motorway unit, before moving to Hutton as a chief inspector.

More recently Mr Hitchcock worked in Blackpool and Burnley and helped devise the force's response to the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry report.

Mr Hitchcock said he was "delighted" at joining the Met.

He added: "At the same time, this delight is tinged with sadness at leaving a great police force and my many friends and colleagues."