The Main man of the Ayrshire police force heads into retirement

The top police officer in Ayrshire is quitting his role this month.

Chief Superintendent Paul Main has been in the hot seat as Divisional Commander for Ayrshire for the past two years.

When he took over from Chief Super Gillian MacDonald , he declared he wanted to “improve public confidence” in the police.

He was based at the division’s HQ in Kilmarnock and actualy began as an Ayrshire beat officer in Irvine in 1989.

By the time he was 41 he was chosen as a star officer to command the particularly tricky Paisley command.

After a successful 20 months there he went off to the old Pitt Street base of Strathclyde Police.

Paul, 51, is being replaced by Chief Super Mark Hargreaves.

Paul told the Post: “It’s a pleasure to finish my police career in Ayrshire where it all started. But there is no doubt in my mind that officers and staff are busier now than ever, and that they deal with a broader range of issues.

“Additionally expectations from the public have never been greater.

“It has been a privilege to be the Divisional Commander of these officers and staff. I am immensely proud of their professionalism, dedication to public service, their compassion and how they are able to help people at the most difficult times in their lives. Policing in Ayrshire has a very proud history and I am confident a promising future.”