Borough police get new chief

TAKING over . . . Cath Hankinson

All change at the top of Oldham police

THE man who halved serious crime in Oldham in three years is moving on.

Chief Supt Tim Forber is to represent the police at AGMA, the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities, from February 4.

The chief supt will be reviewing policing reform by looking into topics such as troubled families and early years crime prevention.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for me; I’m really pleased to be offered the position,” he said. “It will be really interesting.”

In his time in Oldham, anti-social behaviour has fallen by 45 per cent, vehicle crime by 43 per cent, domestic burglary by 28 per cent and robbery by 24 per cent.

“There’s been a significant amount of work done by officers at Oldham police station, but also by the civic partnership,” he added.

Chief Supt Forber — who came to Oldham from West Yorkshire Police, where he investigated 20 murders as detective superintendent in the homicide and major inquiry team — also praised the work he led around Operation Caminada in Oldham. Drugs with a street value of £5.7 million were confiscated.

Stepping into Chief Supt Forber’s shoes will be Oldham’s highest ranking female police officer, Cath Hankinson, who started at Oldham as superintendent the day Mr Forber was promoted to chief in February 2010.

The mum-of-two, married to Supt Chris Hankinson of Rochdale police, said she was thrilled to be offered the promotion:“I love working in Oldham,” she said.

Chief Supt Forber added: “Cath’s been in charge of operations in Oldham for three years and she’s a superb leader, very capable of doing the job. I wish her all the best.”

She is second woman to lead Oldham police, following the lead of Caroline Ball, who preceded Mr Forber