DURHAM Police has announced the officers who will lead its new areas.

The force is scrapping the current six divisions and instead having two areas, north and south, which will both have a five-strong management team.

The north division, in Chester-le-Street, will be led by Chief Superintendent Derek Hall, who is currently the head of the force's corporate development department.

Mr Hall, 46, joined Durham in 1975 and in his post will oversee 690 officers and 160 support staff.

His head of operations will be newly-promoted Superintendent Carole Thompson, who currently performs the same role in Easington division.

The area's crime manager will be Detective Chief Inspector Andy Summerbell, of Durham and Chester-le-Street CID.

The two uniformed chief inspectors will be Dave Hogg, who currently works in Consett, and John Bell, who will move to Chester-le-Street when the force's communications review is finished.

The commander of the Darlington and Sedgefield divisions, Chief Superintendent Michael Banks, will take charge of the south area.

Mr Banks, 39, has been with Durham since 1985 and previously headed the criminal justice and scientific support departments.

Chief Superintendent Robin Trounson will move from Wear and Tees, where he is divisional commander, to become head of operations.

In charge of CID will be crime manager Detective Chief Inspector Ted Edgar, who has been promoted from detective inspector in Bishop Auckland.

The other members will be Chief Inspector Jane Spraggon and Chief Inspector Graham Hall.

The south area will have a complement of 630 officers and 170 support staff.

No date has yet been fixed for the shake-up as key support staff have still to be appointed.