THE new chief constable of North Yorkshire wasted no time in making his presence felt after helping to detain a man just hours into his first shift.

Chief Constable Dave Jones was visiting Catterick Garrison Police Station as part of a tour of the county, when reports of a man being assaulted in Richmond town centre were radioed in around 12.50am on Monday, June 3.

Mr Jones joined local officers who had stopped three men in their 20s. At this point, one of the suspects ran off.

He followed on foot with others directed by CCTV operators.

During a search the suspect was spotted down an alleyway climbing over a wall. Mr Jones went after him with another officer who arrested him on suspicion of affray.

Mr Jones said: “It was important for me to get out and see the officers on the ground and good to be able to muck in with them so soon into my first shift.

"It was great to get involved, and good to be out there with them on the front line.

“Fortunately, the rest of my first shift was a bit quieter and I was able to get around the rest of the county and meet some of the officers and our partners who help to make North Yorkshire one of the safest places in the country.”

The three men arrested have been released on police bail pending enquiries. The victim suffered minor injuries and did not require hospital treatment.