Everyone likes to make a good impression on their first day in the new job – and Kingston police’s newly-appointed Chief Inspector Gary Taylor made sure his was a day to remember when he nabbed a suspect while out on routine driving practice.

Chief Insp Taylor and Sergeant Graham White were undertaking their three-year police driver assement in Surbiton on Friday, when they decided to patrol a few streets where a number of burglaries had recently been reported.

Spotting a man emerging from an alleyway carrying a bag in Surbiton Crescent, the pair – with a driving assessor still on board – drew their marked car alongside the pedestrian.

But the man ran off into a nearby estate, and Chief Insp Taylor and Sgt White gave chase on foot.

Chief Insp Taylor chased the man over fences and through streets, eventually catching and arresting him half way up a set of steps in Berrylands.

The bag, which had been discarded, was found to contain a quantity of cannabis and cash.

The suspect was later found to have been in breach of a court order, and appeared in South West Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday charged with possession of a class B drug.

This week, Kingston’s new borough commander Chief Superintendent Ian Smith praised Chief Insp Taylor and Sgt Smith.

He said: “It was Gary Taylor’s first day as a newly- promoted Chief Inspector. “As the inspector in charge in the town centre team he has been instrumental in cutting down crime over the past three years. Surbiton has now benefited too.

“He and Sgt White are to be commended for their excellent police work and Chief Insp Taylor for an excellent turn of speed.

“I am pleased too Gary Taylor is remaining on our borough after his promotion.”

Chief Insp Taylor said: “I used to be in the Territorial Support Group and I am used to that sort of thing, but I keep myself fit just to make sure.”