THE new chief constable of Durham was appointed last night - and lost no time in calling on courts to do more in the fight against crime.

Paul Garvin, the current deputy chief constable of Durham Constabulary, discovered yesterday that he will take over the top job following the retirement of George Hedges, this autumn.

Before joining the Durham force, in March 2000, he worked for Cleveland Police.

Mr Gavin, 53, expressed concern over the time taken for court cases to be resolved and the lenient punishments sometimes given.

"The really frustrating thing is where you have prolific burglars who are put before the court and are allowed out on bail and commit more offences," he said.

Mr Gavin said he was thrilled at his new appointment. "Durham is acknowledged as one of the best performing and best-equipped forces in Britain."

He hit the headlines last year when he clashed with Darlington Football Club chairman George Reynolds.

Mr Reynolds named Mr Garvin in an action against Cleveland's chief constable Barry Shaw, who he sued for alleged wrongful arrest, unlawful detention and malicious prosecution.

After Mr Reynolds lost, Mr Garvin said he would have sued him if he had not been protected by making the allegations in court.