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Chief is back on beat

Eve Dugdale
18/ 7/2007

GLOSSOP will be the starting point for Derbyshire's top cop's sponsored walk.

Chief Constable David Coleman is to walk 160 miles before he retires in a bid to raise £150,000 for five local charities.

Mr Coleman, who has been the county's chief for six-a-half years, will walk a route from Glossop in the north west of the county to Swadlincote in the south during August. His route will take in all the main towns.

Derbyshire Association for the Blind, Umbrella disabled young person's charity, Derbyshire Community Forum - which helps voluntary groups, Peak District Mountain Rescue and Sporting Futures - a charity which uses sport to help young people build relationships with the community - are all set to benefit from the challenge.

Mr Coleman, 54, is set to retire in September and is urging residents to give what they can.

"I've been part of this organisation for more than half my lifetime and been privileged to fulfil many roles right across the county from the front line to the very top of the organisation. But all of this will change come the end of September when I retire in the 150th year of police service in Derbyshire," he said.

"To celebrate both these milestones I had a whacky idea - why not patrol for one last time around the county?

To donate to the Chief on the Beat charities, log on to www.justgiving.com/chiefonthebeat or send a cheque made payable to Chief on the Beat to Chief on the Beat, Box 150, Derbyshire Constabulary Headquarters, Butterley Hall, Ripley, Derbyshire, DE5 3RS.