A NEW top cop has taken reign of the Glasgow City Centre command area in time for the busy festive and New Year period.

Chief Inspector Audrey Hand has recently been promoted to one of the top jobs in Police Scotland’s G Division.

From her base in Stewart Street, Chief Inspector Hand will be responsible for policing one of Scotland’s busiest beats and with 28 years’ worth of experience behind her, she is ready for the new challenge.

Chief Inspector Hand said: “I am absolutely delighted to take on this job. I have worked in the Glasgow area for a number of years and I was previously a sergeant in the city centre in 2002.”

She added: “As an Inspector I also worked in Glasgow city centre and I am very familiar with it.

“It is the biggest city in Scotland and it is a fantastic opportunity, and I am really looking forward to it.”

Her promotion from inspector, a role she had for 12 years, follows the departure of Chief Inspector Brian Gibson.

He received a superintendent promotion, having spent a year in charge at Stewart Street, and now moves to L division which is the Lanarkshire policing area.

Now the focus for Chief Inspector Hand will be the upcoming festive and New Year period, and her goal is to keep the city communities and its visitors safe.

She said: “We see an increased number of people coming into the city centre for shopping and night life. It is really important to get the message out that it is a safe and great place to be.

“We have additional officers out there to patrol and support the Glasgow city economy.”

Those officers will also patrol the busy city Christmas markets which are expected to draw in the crowds over the festive period.

This year’s Christmas markets are based in George Square and St Enoch’s Square, and we previously reported that revellers attending the festive event can expect extra security checks.

Chief Inspector Hand said: “The Christmas markets are fantastic and well-known in Glasgow. Officers will be out providing reassurance patrols. We are all aware of the threat level being set at severe by the Government.

“But there is nothing to suggest anything untoward is going to happen. It is business as usual with a little bit of reassurance patrols from my officers.”