ROSSENDALE CID today welcomed a new Detective Inspector, the first time an officer of the rank has been stationed in the Valley since Pennine Division was created by Lancashire Police.

DI Tony Ronnan, former head of CID at Burnley, will be stationed at Rawtenstall police station.

For the past few years, the area has been covered by the Detective Inspector for Pendle.

The move follows a restructure of Pennine's CID department, designed to increase efficiency and improve the division's investigation capability.

DI Ronnan, a police officer for 25 years, has spent 20 of those working in CID. He said the change was good news for local residents.

"This new post represents a significant investment for us and shows that Pennine Division is clearly committed to driving down crime in the Rossendale Valley.

"It is excellent news both for CID in Rossendale and for local residents who, like people in Burnley and Pendle, now have their own senior detective to lead local investigations."

DI Ronnan is no stranger to the Valley, having taken a lead role in two recent major investigations: the murder of Joe Platt in 2001 and that of a Stacksteads man in the Philippines in 1991.

He said: "I live within Pennine Division and have worked extensively across the area. I know the Valley and many of the people very well and am looking forward to working with them, and for them, over the course of the coming months."