WE wish Borough Commander Colin Poulter a happy retirement as he leaves the police force this week.

One of the things he has been responsible for is a more open attitude on the part of the local constabulary.

He has been happy to get out of his office and mingle with community groups, even with his critics, and has encouraged his senior officers to adopt a similar line.

It is fitting in many ways that his final public duty will be a memorial service today (Thursday) to mark the 10th anniversary of the death of Sgt Alan King.

Mr Poulter knew Sgt King personally and the task of reading a lesson at the service is one that he has taken on out of respect to a fallen colleague.

He was concerned that our report on his retirement should not in way detract from the article we have written about Alan King.

We have placed them on facing pages because to our mind the reports complement each other.

It is a reminder that every police officer faces danger on our behalf, however junior or senior.