A POLICE officer has landed her dream job after taking over the reins as inspector at the Bolton Central Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Inspector Nicki Tompsett has taken over the role from Inspector Andy Sidebotham, who moved to North Manchester earlier this month to become a chief inspector.

She joins the team after working on “response” in Bolton as an inspector.

Insp Tompsett said: “I am massively excited about the job. This is the dream job for me. I have been given a fantastic opportunity and I have taken it with open hands.”

Insp Tompsett started her career in the Metropolitan Police in London 25 years ago before moving to GMP in 2002.

She has previously worked in Bolton town centre, where she was a sergeant.

Last year she was involved in Operation Zero, a drive to crack down on kerb crawlers and prostitutes in the town centre.

Kerb crawlers were prosecuted and prostitutes were offered help and support with issues in their lives. Insp Tompsett said she was most looking forward to resolving problems in the area.

She said: “For me it’s the problem solving element that I enjoy most. ‘Response’ is very quick time and involves risk management.

“In the neighbourhood it’s slightly slower time but you can really get your teeth into problems. It’s the long-term intervention and problem solving I really enjoy and what I turn up for in the morning.

“I’m excited that I can reignite what I started when I was a town centre sergeant last year.

“I think the town centre is pivotal in the running of Bolton Central Integrated Neighbourhood Policing Team (INPT).

“The town centre is the yolk in the egg. The INPT is very reflective of what happens there.”

Insp Tompsett said her priorities for the area would be crime prevention and giving the public satisfaction.

Satisfaction can be achieved in a number of ways, including keeping victims up to date with investigations and revisiting people where possible.