Two days into his new job commanding South Cumbria's police, Garry Horlacher - a self-confessed "modest man" pledged community support.

It was commitment to helping others which prompted the 16-year-old to leave Barrow Grammar School and join the force.

His dad and brother had toiled "behind bars" in Vickers shipbuilding yards, and incarceration of any kind was not the thinking teenager's scene.

By 36, he was a superintendent and if colleagues thought he would leave the county to top the promotional ladder, they failed to appreciate his passion and unstinting loyalty for the place he calls his own.

He says he's "easy" and "smiles a lot". Behind the bonhomie though, there is a steely determination and will to make a difference.

In some respects he admits liberal tendencies, but mention legalising cannabis, or easier sentencing options for criminals, and the smile fades.

The father of two teenage children is adamant there should be no let up in the fight against all banned substances hard and soft.

"No one should be able to say to my children that drugs of any kind are OK," he counters.

The issue, he admits, is a major concern, and the area's focus on nailing suppliers has to continue.

"A national concern is the increasing supply of crack cocaine, which can make addicts out of users frighteningly quickly," he said.

"Addicts turn to crime to feed their habits. We will all do all we can to tackle this issue, but do need more information from the public."

On firearms, he backs the Government's stand for five-year mandatory sentences for carrying weapons in public.

Arming police to counter the increase in violent crime would be wrong, he says.

"I joined an unarmed service 27 years ago and any moves away from that would be detrimental."

Burglary of people's homes is, says the Kendal-based commander, despicable. He questions recent changes to court guidelines, issued by the Lord Chief Justice, requiring judges to consider community penalties for those who can currently look at prison sentences of up to 18 months.

"If prison overcrowding is an underlying issue, then it is time to pay more heed to the needs of the victim," he stresses.

He says travelling criminals have no business thinking South Cumbria offers soft options.

The superintendent will not talk solved crime, or any other statistics, but stresses his force has the wherewithal "intelligence, technical back-up and good old-fashioned bobbying" to cope.

He is quick to reassure communities that they have the support and dedication of his team of 300-plus officers and 100 support staff.

They worked, he admitted, within strict financial confines and far-fetched expectations.

"There is always an insatiable demand for high levels of policing. I understand the public's desire, but their expectations are unrealistic. What they need to know is that there are officers responsible for them in their areas.

"When they don't see officers, they think they aren't there. They are, working in specific areas, and they know their communities."

In an ideal world Supt Horlacher would like more local policing teams. He is determined to make the best use of existing manpower, to maintain and build links with the public they serve.

"We live in a beautiful place, where communities care for each other."

As a constable, early in his career, he spent the hot summer of 76 in Windermere and cherished the time.

Later, facing chaos in Carlisle's Botcher-gate riots, and dealing with the heartache and wanton wicked-ness of the Lockerbie bombing, he has always remained loyal to his first instincts of wanting to help.

A staunch advocate of community policing, he was the man who retained the concept of area bobbies in Carlisle.

The superintendent is eager for police to work with other agencies, particularly local authorities, but does not want to push policing boundaries too far.

For instance, he is keen to support joint truancy patrols, but feels fining the parents of errant pupils is a step in the wrong direction. With scarce resources, police cannot dilute their main role too much, he argues.

He remains tight-lipped over an 18-month internal investigation, which exonerated him. It included Supt Horlacher's use of smiley and sad faces on a rota board.

The effect on his family, he admits, was devastating and slammed the process for taking an "unnecessarily long time".

He praised his officers, saying most gave 110 per cent.

"The few odd ones that don't will be turned around, with my support in the first instant," smiled the copper who likes badminton and sheepishly admits to being a caravanner.

January 10, 2003 14:00