AS some of you will know, I upset some students recently when I addressed the issue of river safety and drinking in Durham city.

So, during a recent debate at Durham University, I had the opportunity to put the record straight.

Firstly, I am not against students, quite the contrary in fact.

I was once a student. Three of my children have been through university. Students bring such a lot to the city of Durham.

Secondly, I am socially liberal. I do not think drinking is bad.

Shock, horror, I occasionally have one more than I should and I pay the price for it the next morning.

But I was really frightened when I heard on the day we found Euan Coulthard’s body, another student was about to die in the river.

To be frank, it shook me to the core.

It was only thanks to the bravery of my officers, who risked their own lives to go in the river after him, that he didn’t die.

After that particular incident I was asked by the girlfriend of one of the officers involved what I was personally going to do to safeguard the life of her partner and his colleagues.

So, when I spoke publicly about the issue in an interview with BBC, I did so to send a warning because up to that point I feared the message was not being heard by those who need to hear it.

If my tone has been wrong I apologise. But I did not join this job to be popular. I joined this job to save lives.

However, I will be the first to admit where we have got it wrong.

Traditionally we have put all our efforts into Freshers, we have overlooked the different drinking rituals of second and third year students. We are now looking at what we do to address this.

During the debate, one of the students highlighted a hostility their peers feel from police officers.

We, the police, need to work really hard to make sure our student population don’t feel like this.

I promised I would address this concern so at 7.30am the following day I recorded a video message which was sent to every member of the Force highlighting the issue.

Lastly, I have to say one area I am particularly concerned about is ‘pre-loading’ – where students buy cheap, hard liquor from supermarkets and drink at home to excess before they come into town.

I think those in the industry haven’t done enough to make it more difficult to buy and those responsible should hang their heads in shame.

Durham is still one of the most harmonious cities in the country, but we must not rest on our laurels.

The issue of student drinking and their safety is a complex one and one which cannot be solved by one organisation.

I will do my bit and I would hope others will do too.

That includes students who need to take personal responsibility for themselves and each other after having a drink.

It is only by working together that we will make our world a safer place.

What a proud day few days for Durham Constabulary.

On Saturday we celebrated our 175th birthday at Durham Cathedral and yesterday we wrote a new chapter in the proud history of this force.

The Princess Royal opened our new headquarters and it was both an honour and a privilege to be part of.

Our new HQ is a modern, transparent building which serves as a metaphor for everything we stand for.

It is green, fit-for-purpose, forward-thinking and is built with people at its core.

It is a celebration of all that is good about this force.

Yesterday was one of the proudest moments in my career and one that will certainly live long in the memory.