BOLTON has a new top detective -- and already he's a busy man probing the fatal Moat House hotel fire.

Det Supt Dave Jones took charge of Bolton CID at the end of March after his predecessor Mick Gorrill moved on to a new job, heading up another GMP crime squad

And the 36-year-old, who is the youngest officer to attain the senior rank in the force, admits he has had to hit the ground running. Within weeks of him taking up his post, based at Bolton Central police station, the detective was in charge of a detailed investigation into the town centre hotel blaze in which two pensioners died.

Limited

He said: "Although I have only been here for a limited time I have already had to put a considerable amount of time into the investigation of the Moat House fire."

His promotion comes as he prepares to celebrate 15 years in the service, working his way up from rank of sergeant at Middleton police station.

He also served as an Inspector at Chadderton and GMP's crime policy unit before rising up the ranks to Det Chief Insp at Cheadle Hulme.

The senior officer, who is married with two young children, has worked his way through GMP's ranks as part of the acclerated promotion scheme.

He has been involved in the force's response to the Macpherson report following the Stephen Lawrence inquiry and has also worked on the preparation of the public inquiry which will be held into the serial killer GP Harold Shipman murders. Talking of his new post he said: "I'm pleased to be here. There's lots of good work taking place with the local authority in order to tackle crime and disorder and this has already resulted in reduction in crime."

And he urged people to help in the fight against crime, adding: "For much of the information we receive we rely on the public and I would hope they continue to help us."