I HAVE now been a police officer for more than 35 years and I can hand on heart say that the service has travelled light-years in that time.

Therefore, it makes my toes curl when I hear young, serving cops getting verbally abused for mistakes made by police in the past.

Most of them were just kids, or were not even born, when these events happened.

I am referring to the likes of Jimmy Saville, which I have witnessed young cops getting an earful over.

On the terraces I have even heard unpleasant things said to new recruits over Hillsborough.

So, please don’t level the mistakes of the past at the door of the serving of today.

It is simply not fair, however, police officers from the previous generation need to learn the lessons.

I AM currently trying to lose a bit of weight.

I didn’t touch chocolate at Easter and I am trying to eat a little more of the green stuff.

And I am pleased to report that it is paying off.

Over the last four weeks I have managed to shed 9lbs If I carry on at this rate, I will need to order a new uniform!

AS some of you might have seen, I have been taking to social media quite a bit recently.

We have been holding live Q & A sessions on Facebook, and I have been staggered by the response.

More than 14,000 people logged on to the last session and the questions come quick and fast, in fact, I need three people to type the answers I dictate just to keep up.

It was great fun, and hopefully informative.

The next is on May 6 from 6am to 7pm at www.facebook.com/durhamconstabulary.

Here are a few exchanges from the last one:

Sarah Kinghorn: “In your whole career what incident have you dealt with that stands out the most and why?”

Mike Barton: “Hi Sarah. It's not serious and it is not earth-shattering, but in 1982, as a young cop, I sat in the bedroom of a confused and angry young man, listening to him.

"His mam, recently remarried, was at her wit’s end. A year later, his mam sent me a card saying that her son was now a happy, young man and she had noticed the change after I had given him some of my time and sympathetic ear.

"I often wonder where he is now and I am quietly proud of the little thing I did to help him be less angry. Police officers reading this blog will recognise this as police work rather than the sexy hyped-up stuff that half-hour dramas on TV need.”

Claire Leckenby : “What's your favourite scary movie?!”

Mike Barton: “Hi Claire. I don't like scary movies! I don't find them entertaining. However, Don't Look Now, from 1973, is chilling.

Claire Leckenby: “Oh I'll have to have a watch of that one! Keep up the good work!”

Malcolm Lear: “Mr Barton, I am a retired Durham Constabulary officer, extremely proud of my service and that of other members of my family.

"My issue concerns the present police uniform. At it's very best it is scruffy and somewhat paramilitary.

"Call me old fashioned but a smart uniform portrays discipline and goes someway to earning respect.

"I accept finance is probably behind the purchase of this uniform, however have you or will you consider changing it, even re introducing white shirts?”

Mike Barton: “Hi Malcolm, thank you for this question. I think I am in your camp but some of my colleagues on the frontline wanted a uniform that sits more comfortably under body armour and with the amount of equipment officers now carry. But I am regularly having conversations within the force about the need for us to look the part.

"Paradoxically the new uniform is sometimes more expensive than the old one but the cost of the old tunic, a tailored garment, was significant and I believe was a major part of the decision to replace it.”

I RECENTLY became a grandad for the second time, and I am absolutely chuffed to bits.

We celebrated the birth of a beautiful new baby grandaughter.

Being Chief Constable is the pinnacle of my career, but being grandad is the best job in the world.