A police inspector who devoted her 30-year career to frontline policing in Kirklees has retired from the force.

Insp Vanessa Briggs retired this month after spending the last eight years in charge of the Kirklees Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Vanessa said: “I’ve committed my career to Kirklees District as a full-time uniformed officer and after so many years here, I know Kirklees like the back of my hand.

“I’ve been in my current role of Kirklees Rural NPT inspector for almost eight years and feel closely connected to both the area and the people.

“Rural is a beautiful, vibrant and diverse area with a great sense of community spirit and pride. I feel extremely privileged to have served the residents here.”

Vanessa joined West Yorkshire Police in 1996 and worked from both Huddersfield and Holmfirth as a response officer and tutor constable.

Following a year working to aid victims of domestic abuse she then worked across Dewsbury and Huddersfield as an acting sergeant before promotion to sergeant in 2015.

Vanessa became Holmfirth sergeant in 2016 and then an acting inspector directing initial police response to all incidents across Kirklees.

September 2018 saw Vanessa return to Kirklees Rural as acting inspector before her final promotion as the permanent NPT inspector based in Holmfirth.

Vanessa said being on the frontline as a uniformed officer was where her heart had always been, right from the start of her career.

“No other role has attracted me away from the frontline policing I’ve always done,” she said.

“I think it’s in my blood and there are no other roles that would have given me that direct sense of achievement from protecting the vulnerable and bringing offenders to justice.

“I feel a great deal of satisfaction from guiding my teams through local problem solving with partners, deploying road safety initiatives, developing intelligence, carrying out arrests and securing convictions.”

Vanessa said local councillors and residents rightly had high expectations of their local officers and she was proud of the work her teams had carried out to meet them.

She added: “I’d like to thank my three NPT teams and support officers for their ongoing hard work and for their incredible commitment to making Kirklees Rural a safer and happier place to live and work on a daily basis.”

Looking to the future, Vanessa said that after 30 years on the frontline, she’ll be taking a breather before seeking a new role.

“I’m going to take some time out to spend with friends and family, travel a little and enjoy myself before looking for my next challenge,” she said.

“I’ll certainly really miss being part of policing in Kirklees but will still be active in the community I’ve always been part of.”

Insp Beth Sanderson has taken over at Kirklees Rural NPT.