A SENIOR North Yorkshire police officer who has spearheaded a string of emergency operations is to take a top job with a neighbouring force.

Chief Supt Gary Barnett has been appointed assistant chief constable of County Durham in succession to Ron Hogg, who is to become deputy chief constable of Cleveland.

Chief Supt Barnett, 46, has gained a reputation for dealing with a series of major incidents in North Yorkshire.

His introduction to disaster management came when he led the operation dealing with an air crash at Dunkeswick, near Harrogate, in which 12 people died.

In the winter of 2000, he led a task force that responded to one of the worst flood threats ever faced by York. The River Ouse rose by 18ft and came within inches of reaching levels that would have submerged thousands of properties and put much of the historic city under water.

In February 2001, Chief Supt Barnett was the senior ground commander following the Great Heck train disaster near Selby.

Ten people died and 70 were hurt after a London-bound GNER express travelling at 125mph was derailed into the path of a northbound coal train after hitting a LandRover which had left the M62 and ended up on the line. Inquests on the ten victims will open soon in Harrogate.

Chief Supt Barnett's experiences led to an invitation to join a national team of police officers who advise on handling disasters.

He was educated at St Peter's School, York, graduated from Lancaster University with a degree in psychology and joined the North Yorkshire force in 1978.

Chief Supt Barnett said: "While I was at university I met a police sergeant who suggested the service had something to offer me. I thought: 'Why not', and applied."

His first three years were spent as a beat officer in Harrogate. When he emerged in the top 200 in national sergeants' examinations he applied for and was accepted on the special course at the national police college at Bramshill, Hampshire.

After undertaking a wide range of operational duties across the North Yorkshire force, he went to York as operations commander in 1997 and, two years later, took charge of the same division after promotion to chief superintendent. He supports York City Football Club, where he has been match commander on several occasions.

Chief Supt Barnett has been with the corporate development department of the force since February and was recently awarded a post-graduate diploma in criminology from Cambridge University.

He said of his new post: "Durham has a reputation as a force that is second to none and I will be doing my level best to make sure it stays that way."

He and his wife, Diane, have two sons, 19-year-old Martin and 18-year-old Tom, both of whom have played rugby union for Yorkshire.