A NEW Force Chaplain for Cleveland Police will take up his duties this Easter.

The Reverend John Ford will also be Priest-in-Charge of Stainton with Hilton. Although his parish base will be Stainton Vicarage, his chaplaincy will operate at police headquarters and throughout the Cleveland Police area.

He served his curacy at Marton-in-Cleveland and has been vicar of Whorlton with Carlton and Faceby for the past seven years.

Acting Deputy Chief Constable Dell Cannings said the role would see him linking in with existing force welfare facilities to help provide support to staff. "He will provide a vital link to the faiths of the force area and have an important role in emergency planning and response to major incidents," she said.

Mr Ford worked for the Ministry of Defence before he became a minister and will take over from the Reverend Ben Hopkinson, who retired last year.

The Bishop of Whitby, the Right Reverend Robert Ladds, said: "John Ford's work and experience in parish ministry, built on his professional career before ordination, will enable him to work with police structures, serving officer and staff at all levels as a friend and as a priest."

His appointment was agreed by Cleveland Police and the Diocese of York, with the support of the Bishop of Durham