KIND words have been paid to Haddington’s community police officer, who has now taken on a new role.

Constable Charlie Duncan has swapped Court Street for Bilston Glen, near Loanhead, and a new role in the police’s contact centre.

The 44-year-old, who succeeded Lynn Black in the Haddington role, felt it was time for a change.

He said: “I really enjoyed it [the community role] because I have spent so much time down in this area. I have really enjoyed getting to know so many different people, who I would not have got to know as a response officer. I have got to know councillors, business owners and other people and it has been a really interesting, different way of policing.

“But it is just time for a change after 15 years of beat policing.”

The officer has become part of the resolution team at the control centre, where assessments are carried out on how to deal with incoming telephone calls from the public.

The Robert Gordon University graduate, who joined Lothian and Borders Police in 2005, provided a monthly report to Haddington’s community council and chaired community and police partnership (CAPP) meetings, where local police issues throughout the Haddington and Lammermuir ward were discussed.

PC Duncan, who finished in the community role at the end of August, also worked in North Berwick and Dunbar before moving to the west of the county and stints in Tranent, Prestonpans and Musselburgh as a frontline response officer.

Since then, he has worked with ELCAT (East Lothian Community Action Team) and was the anti-social behaviour officer based in Tranent’s George Johnstone Centre.

With a replacement yet to be found, PC Duncan’s colleague, Constable Colin Boyd, who is Haddington and Lammermuir community officer, has taken on the role.

Tributes were paid to PC Duncan at Haddington’s community council meeting in July.

Chief Inspector Neil Mitchell attended the online meeting and said: “As community officer, he has done an outstanding job.”

The local area commander told the meeting he “tried his best” to keep him but was now looking to hire a successor.

Jan Wilson, chairwoman of the community council, also thanked PC Duncan for his efforts.

She described Haddington as “a lovely place to live” and residents were “lucky” that crime figures were so low.

She added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Charlie for all his reports – everything was clear and concise and we appreciate it.”