The Chief Constable of Staffordshire has said he is confident improvements in the policing service will continue after he retires this week. David Swift has insisted he has done a good job since taking over in 2005.
He pointed out that violent crime is going down and neighbourhood policing is well established.
Chief Constable Swift has expressed optimism about the force's performance after Chris Sims, who lives in the county, succeeds him.
Top grading
He said: "Violent crime (is) finally starting to reduce at the same time as accepting that we're not overlooking domestic violence.
"I hand onto a Staffordshire resident called Chris Sims, who has previously been superintendent in charge of Hanley.
"I know him well and I'm confident that he will continue to see year-on-year improvement in the policing service."
Staffordshire was among the best performing forces in England and Wales, according to Home Office figures released last October.
It was given the top grading of excellent in four of the seven assessment categories which included investigating and reducing crime.
Mr Sims will take on the role having been the deputy chief executive at the National Policing Improvement Agency in London and the deputy chief constable at West Midlands Police.
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