The Kent Police officer who led the investigation into the offences of convicted murderer and necrophiliac David Fuller has been elected president of the Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA).

Chief Superintendent Paul Fotheringham led "Operation Sandpiper" that resulted in Fuller receiving a double life sentence in December for the murders of Caroline Pierce and Wendy Knell and for 51 cases of abusing dead bodies in a hospital mortuary.

Mr Fotheringham was elected at the meeting of the association’s national executive committee last Thursday, with Chief Superintendent Harvi Khatkar of West Midlands Police as his vice president.

Mr Fotheringham served the first half of his service for Kent Police in local policing and the second half in specialist crime, including protecting vulnerable people, serious crime and homicide investigation.

He has been a PSA branch official for the last six years, a district official and a member of the national executive committee for three years.

His three-year term of office starts on Monday, March 21. The organisation represents superintendents and chief superintendents in 49 police forces.

Mr Fotheringham said: “I am extremely proud to have been elected into this role, which has unique influence across policing, not only impacting on individual members, but across the entire service and the wider public."

He said: "It is a role with huge responsibility but great privilege, representing members across England and Wales and other affiliated colleagues.

"I am determined to make a difference and will focus on building the fantastic work already under way, advocating for our members and pushing for positive change in policing."

He replaces Paul Griffiths.