HOUSEBREAKINGS and bogus callers are among the crimes East Lothian’s top police officer is most keen to tackle.

Acting Chief Inspector Ben Leathes became the county’s new local area commander at the beginning of the month following the departure of Jocelyn O’Connor.

The father-of-two was looking forward to working alongside different agencies in the county.

He highlighted housebreaking and bogus callers as two crimes he felt had a sizeable impact.

The officer said: “I have investigated every crime there.

“Reflecting on how it impacts on people, for me, housebreaking can be particularly impacting. It is an invasion of one’s privacy and comes unexpectedly.

“Another area would be bogus caller crime. That is usually targeted towards the more vulnerable members of the community.

“That is particularly odious and we are looking to try to protect the most vulnerable people.

'When people contact us, they are listened to'

“I would single out those two crime types. You have to appreciate the most minor crime can have a big impact on somebody’s life.

“I am seeking to come out here and to use officers as effectively as we can; when people contact us, they are listened to and we try to get the right response.”

The local area commander marks 20 years in the police force next month, having previously studied at the University of St Andrews.

During his police career, he has spent 14 years in Edinburgh and worked in CID and public protection roles over the last six years.

He told the Courier he had “always enjoyed” going round the different departments in the police and “getting experience in different areas”.

Originally from Dumfries, he added: “I have been in uniform and CID roles in every rank, with work in public protection and enjoyed it.”

The officer, who previously played rugby for Stewart’s Melville and faced off against Haddington, Musselburgh and Preston Lodge, was familiar with a number of the partners he would be working alongside.

East Lothian Council has previously outlined how the desirable nature of the county and the growing population brought about new challenges.

Acting Chief Inspector Leathes, who lives south of Edinburgh, acknowledged that it brought about potential issues.

He said: “In terms of huge population growth, there is pressure on all the services.

“That presents its own police challenges: number of calls, people living here permanently and the increase in visitors pretty much starting from these holidays onwards through the year.

“Ultimately, we want to keep people safe and looked after.”