HIGH-flying Oxford police chief Cressida Dick is leaving her home city to take the next step on the promotion ladder, writes Andrew Ffrench.

Cressida, Oxford area commander, has passed a rigorous selection board for a strategic command course at Bramshill, Hampshire, the National Police Training College.

After the course, she will be able to apply for an assistant chief constable's post at any force in Britain.

Following the announcement, Oxford City Council leader John Tanner said: "I think Cressida Dick has been an excellent superintendent and has taken co-operation between the council and the police to a new level in the fight against crime." Cressida is being replaced by Supt David McWhirter, who will take over from her on April 10.

Supt McWhirter currently runs Thames Valley Crime Support Department, which deals with major crime as well as a number of CID departments.

Cressida joined Thames Valley Police in the Summer of 1995 as superintendent of operations at Oxford.

This followed ten years in the Metropolitan Police and two years at Bramshill. She became Oxford Police area commander in April, 1997. She said: "I feel very privileged to have worked in this wonderful city, where I grew up. I have enjoyed every minute of my time here and will be sad to leave.

"I have been very well supported by all sorts of people both inside and outside of Thames Valley Police.

"In particular, I would mention Oxford's front-line police staff who constantly impress me with their professionalism, courage, humanity and care for our communities."

Cressida was brought up in Oxford and educated at The Dragon School and Oxford High School before graduating in agriculture at Balliol College.

While based at St Aldate's, she has been in charge of policing numerous demonstrations including those mounted by Reclaim the Streets protesters and animal rights activists campaigning to close Hillgrove cat farm, near Witney. Other high-profile responsibilities have included tackling Oxford's drugs problem and handling the policing of May morning celebrations at Magdalen Bridge.

Mr Tanner added: "She will be sorely missed by everyone except the criminals and I am sure she will make a very good assistant chief constable."

Supt McWhirter joined Thames Valley Police in 1976 and worked at Reading, Milton Keynes and Newbury before spending some time in the tactical support group.

He has also been in charge of the force operations and traffic unit. Supt McWhirter said: "I am delighted to be transferring to Oxford. It's a huge challenge but made easier through the excellent work of Cressida and her predecessor Ralph Perry, and I plan to build on their achievements.

"It is a particularly interesting time given recent development work on the Crime and Disorder Act and the crime reduction targets set by the Home Secretary."

Story date: Friday 25 February

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.