A new inspector has been appointed to take charge of a new police sector combining Helston with Falmouth and Penryn.

Previously Helston was joined with Camborne, while Falmouth and Penryn were linked with Truro.

But Inspector Mark Richards, who has been in place since March 2011 covering Falmouth, will now be responsible solely for Truro.

His replacement, Steve Lenney – who started his new job on Wednesday – will oversee a large sector that includes not only the main towns of Falmouth, Penryn and Helston but also Constantine and Gweek down to the tip of the Lizard Peninsula.

Insp Lenney is a former Camborne custody inspector with more than 20 years experience in the police.

Penryn Town Council was informed of the change in personnel at their monthly meeting on Monday and the move was met with scepticism by some.

Councillor John Langan, who had an unrelated complaint about police procedure following a search for a drowned dog in the Penryn River on Boxing Day, said of the outgoing Insp Richards: “He’s only been with us ten minutes, hasn’t he?”

Keep your eyes peeled for a full interview with the new inspector for Falmouth, Penryn and Helston on www.thepacket.co.uk soon.