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View Full Version : Former Caithness detective's new role



Nwicker60
15-Apr-11, 12:26
Drugs and alcohol misuse are senior police officer's priorities

CHIEF Superintendent Ralph Noble, one of Northern Constabulary’s most experienced and senior officers, has taken over as the Force’s new Head of Operations following the recent retiral of Chief Superintendent Bruce Duncan
Formerly Detective Superintendent, Head of Crime Services for two years, Mr Noble is an officer with a long history of CID and investigative experience in targeting serious and organised crime in the Highlands and Islands. He joined Northern Constabulary’s cadet scheme in 1975, being appointed a constable two years later. Mr Noble then served in uniform at a variety of postings throughout the Force, including Inverness, Skye, Culloden, Stornoway and Alness, following which he undertook CID duties at Dingwall, being promoted to Detective Sergeant in Caithness in 1991. He later returned to CID duties at Inverness.
Between 1994 and 1997, he served as Detective Inspector with the Scottish Crime Squad, Edinburgh, investigating serious and organised crime at national level, subsequently returning to the Force to take charge of the its drug squad. In 1998, Mr Noble was promoted to Detective Chief Inspector with the Scottish Crime Squad and served in this role during the organisation’s successful transition to the Scottish Drug Enforcement Agency.
Following a spell in this central service, he was selected to manage the Scottish Forensic Science Project on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland between 2002 and 2003, which effectively created the Scottish Forensic Service and provided the future shape and service profile of forensic science services in Scotland. He then returned to the uniform branch managed team at Inverness, being promoted to Superintendent in 2006 leading the Force’s strategic review of services which has altered the policing structures of the Force, increased officer numbers and provided a variety of corporate business benefits.
Having over 23 years experience in criminal investigation at every rank of CID, he was appointed Detective Superintendent, Head of Headquarters Crime Services in 2009, with responsibility for the investigation of serious crime and provision of specialist support to all policing divisions and area commands of the force.
Mr Noble said: “The Highlands and Islands of Scotland remain the safest place to live and work in the United Kingdom. This position is made possible to a large extent ,by the level of co-operation we enjoy from our communities and the accessible and responsive policing model we choose to deliver our services. My aim is to ensure that we continue to provide a high quality, visible and effective policing throughout the force area.”
He added: “The availability and misuse of drugs in our communities impacts on many families, creating victims indiscriminately. We can only tackle this by placing sustained focus on those profiteers who traffic illegal substances to the Highlands and Islands. Public co-operation, vigilance and a steady supply of information are the key ingredients to successful enforcement action which we will continue to undertake against the availability and supply of controlled substances. We will continue to disrupt such activity and take action against offenders wherever possible. Whilst enforcement plays it part, greater focus must also be placed on diversion and treatment as part of an effective and comprehensive intervention strategy to stem the tide, concentrating on the symptoms alone is not the answer.”
Mr Noble also recognises the effect acohol has on our communities. He said: “ Responsibility for effective intervention and action does not rest exclusively with the police and must involve the effective engagement of public partners and society itself in finding ways to tackle and effectively manage the problem down. A reduction in alcohol misuse is highly likely to manifest itself as a reduction of crime and disorder”
Detective superintendent Gordon Greenless takes over as Head of Crime Services.