New man in charge of police command
5th March, 2010
HE started his working life as an engineering apprentice with Rolls- Royce…now he's got a top-notch job.
For the past four-and-a-half years Supt Andy Reddick has led a team of detectives investigating major crimes such as murder, rape and fraud. Now he has been promoted to Chief Supt and appointed commander of Durham Police's south area.
He will be in charge of over 700 staff who police an area including Darlington, Newton Aycliffe, Spennymoor, Ferryhill, Bishop Auckland, Crook and Barnard Castle.
The appointment comes as Chief Supt Reddick, married with two children, reaches his 50th birthday and 20 years in the police.
He is delighted with his new post and sees it as yet another challenge in a working life that started when he was 16 in his home city of Bristol.
He said: "I am really excited that I have been given the opportunity by the executive team to be commander of the South Area. I am also happy they have placed this trust in me.
"I will strive to improve on the area's current successes by working closely with the public and our partner agencies to reduce crime and further improve detection rates. We will tackle head-on those committing crime and anti-social behaviour in our communities."
After leaving school Chief Supt Reddick became an apprentice with Rolls-Royce and joined the Army when he was 21.
He served for 10 years specialising in bomb disposal before leaving the Army as a captain, to join the police at the age of 30.
After first being stationed at Chester-le-Street he was promoted to sergeant and then spent three years in Peterlee before moving to Darlington for two years and then Durham, as an inspector.
When later appointed chief inspector he worked in crime prevention and community safety and then in intelligence, based at Darlington. On his promotion to superintendent he worked in the professional standards department at headquarters for a year.
He leaves a post which saw him as a senior investigating officer take the lead role in numerous homicides, rape enquiries and other major crimes. His other responsibilties included scientific support, vulnerability and economic crime.
In addition he was a member of the ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) national team, developing policy for investigating infant deaths.
Chief Supt Reddick takes over as area commander from Chief Supt Carole Thompson, who is retiring.
