A senior police officer has returned for his third stint at Maidstone police station to take up the role of Divisional Commander for the force’s west division.

Chief Supt Steve Corbishley, who joined Kent Police in 1993, has taken charge of west division, which covers Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge and Malling. Mr Corbishley succeeds Acting Chief Supt Andy Rabey, who had held the position of divisional commander on a temporary basis following the departure to force headquarters of Chief Supt Matthew Nix.

Chief Supt Corbishley took on his first command role in 2004 at Maidstone, returning again in 2006.

In 2008 he was appointed as the area commander at Medway and during his time there there were reductions in crime long standing problems were addressed including the virtual removal of street prostitution that had been embedded in the Chatham area. Since July 2011, he has taken charge of the partnership directorate at force headquarters in Maidstone, with responsibility for strategic crime reduction activity, partnership and community engagement.

He said:‘I am very pleased to be given the opportunity of leading the police team at west division and look forward to seeing many familiar faces I have worked with in the past. The key for us will be to continue reducing crime and anti-social behaviour and making sure that we provide the best possible service to all those who contact us."