RUNCORN'S new head of policing is Mike Naughton.

He'll be responsible for the town within the new 'Northern Area', the unit formed by the merger of Halton and Warrington police. Insp Naughton has been a police officer for 28 years and has worked in Widnes, Warrington and Runcorn.

He has been involved in response policing, CID work and drug enforcement and education.

He said: "By targeting persistent offenders and increasing officers' visibility I will be seeking to reassure residents and increase people's confidence in the criminal justice system.

"It's important that people living and working in Runcorn are safe and feel safer."