ESSEX Police's new chief constable today promised to continue his predecessor's hard stance against criminals and vowed to deploy yet more bobbies on the beat.

Roddy Ashworth

ESSEX Police's new chief constable today promised to continue his predecessor's hard stance against criminals and vowed to deploy yet more bobbies on the beat.

Jim Barker-McCardle, who is stepping into the formidable shoes of controversial chief Roger Baker, warned hardened criminals planning to operate in Essex they should “say goodbye to your families” as they would be going to prison for a long time.

Speaking to the press for the first time since his appointment last week, Mr Barker-McCardle also said he stood by his predecessor's commitment to send officers to every crime, despite the criticism it received from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary last year.

Mr Barker-McCardle said: “In my mind it is an entirely right thing to do, it is entirely consistent with good victim service.

“If the police were criticised before (for that) then they will be criticised again.”

- For more on this story see tomorrow's paper.