THE police officer who led the quadruple murder hunt which ended with Mark Hobson’s capture has been appointed area commander for North Yorkshire Police’s eastern area.

Chief Superintendent Javad Ali, who received a Chief Constable’s commendation after leading inquiries and then the capture of Hobson four years ago this week, has spoken of his great pride in taking up the post, which includes Hambleton, Ryedale and Scarborough.

A police officer for the past 26 years – 24 of which have been served in North Yorkshire – Chief Supt Ali takes command of the force’s eastern area, which is the largest of the county’s three policing areas.

He has also issued a stark warning to criminals, saying he will be “taking the fear of crime to their doorstep”.

“I am delighted and extremely proud to take up this post,” he said. “I wish my predecessor, Chief Superintendent Sue Day, every success in her role with the HMIC (Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary) and I intend to carry on her good work, with a strong focus on safer neighbourhoods.

“We have some excellent crime and detection figures in North Yorkshire, but as a police officer you can never stand still and as I have already said, I intend to take the fear of crime to the doorstep of the criminal.

“The vast majority of my career has been in North Yorkshire so I am a home-grown, career detective. I know the patch well and I am looking forward to resuming my partnership with the public and local organisations of the eastern area.”

Chief Supt Ali is a recipient of both good conduct and long service awards. His most recent role was Detective Superintendent in charge of protective services, based at the force’s headquarters at Newby Wiske.

He was head of criminal investigations in North Yorkshire Police’s central division – covering York and Selby – in 2004 when the biggest manhunt ever launched by the force took place.

Mark Hobson was jailed for life following the murders of twins Claire and Diane Sanderson, of Camblesforth, near Selby, and Strensall pensioners James and Joan Britton.

Receiving an award in 2005 for his role in snaring the murderer, Chief Supt Ali said: “My thoughts are always with the families of the Sandersons and the Brittons and that will never change.

“The investigation was a tremendous team effort by North Yorkshire Police – a lot of hard work went into it. It demonstrated that as a police force we can hold our own.”