ONE of South Cumbria’s most senior policemen is leaving after winning a high-ranking job with a neighbouring force.

Chief Supt Paul Kennedy, who has been based at Busher Walk in Kendal, has been appointed as Assistant Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police.

Chief Supt Kennedy joined the police in 1988 and was named area commander for South Cumbria in 2008.

More recently, he has been serving as Chief Superintendent of organisational support for Cumbria Police - part of its senior management team.

This morning (Saturday) on Twitter, he thanked those who had sent him messages of support, saying he was ‘delighted and privileged’ to be joining them.

North Yorkshire’s Chief Constable Dave Jones - who was only appointed to the top job himself last month - said: “Paul is an exceptional officer with an impressive track record of delivering high-quality and responsive policing to communities wherever he has worked.”

Julia Mulligan, North Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, was on the selection panel.

She said: "With the appointment of Paul Kennedy, I am pleased that we have selected someone with the dynamism and innovation to deliver the ambitious goals of the Police and Crime Plan, namely for North Yorkshire Police to become more responsive, visible and accessible to the people we serve."

Mr Kennedy, originally from West Yorkshire, added: "I am delighted to be joining such a successful service in North Yorkshire and I look forward to working with the new Chief Constable and the whole team, and the Police and Crime Commissioner and our partners."

Previously, he has served with West Yorkshire Police and South Wales Police in both uniform and detective roles.

Between 2005-08 he was based in Bradford where he was a senior murder detective and also specialised in investigating child abductions.

He moved to South Cumbria five years ago and in 2010 he was temporarily seconded for six months to work with her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary where he led a 'value for money’ inspection of criminal justice reforms in London.

North Yorkshire Police say in his new role, Mr Kennedy will have responsibility for ‘operational performance’.

This covers community policing, criminal investigation and operations (roads policing) and other specialist units such as firearms support.

A starting date will be confirmed in due course.