He oversees nearly 340 crimefighters and is in charge of stopping or solving the most serious threats facing Cumbria. NICK GRIFFITHS meets the county's new head of crime.

Pounding over the fells, limbs aching, blood pumping and fresh air filling his lungs, Andy Slattery pauses for breath to look out over Cumbria's awe inspiring scenery.

The county's most senior detective says this gruelling pastime - and the setting it takes place in, gives him a unique perspective on things.

For a man who has dealt with some of Cumbria's most notorious killings, oversees efforts to crack organised crime - and monitors the fight against paedophiles, these moments of contrast are welcome ones.

"Comparing a tough day at work with running 100 miles non-stop over the fells, with all the discomfort that involves, is a valuable perspective to have occasionally," he says.

Detective Chief Superintendent Slattery - a policeman for 25 years - has recently been promoted.

Perhaps more significantly, he has taken the title of "head of crime" at Cumbria police.

To those who think his face looks familiar, he's the officer who has headed up or been involved in efforts to crack some of the more serious and high-profile cases to hit Cumbria in recent years, often speaking publicly to gain information or offer reassurance.

Last year he was the senior investigating officer in the Jordan Watson murder inquiry following the tragic death of the city teenager.

In 2010 he played a key role following Derrick Bird's horrific killing spree in the west of the county.

Now he is the most senior detective in Cumbria.

He says: "The job involves overseeing departments to reduce threat, risk and harm in our communities," he says.

"I have 247 officers and 90 staff - and these are in a number of different roles, from frontline CID and public protection offices, to intelligence, organised crime, counter-terrorism, digital investigation, offender management and crime scene investigation.

"The crimes investigated range from crime such as theft and assaults to serious crime including sexual offences and homicide."

Crime is an ever-changing beast, even in sometimes Cumbria.

At one time thieves launched smash-and-grab raids targeting car radios. Now they hack bank accounts online.

Det Chief Supt Slattery reveals the other threats his officers aim to overcome.

"The greatest challenge for us is the safeguarding of vulnerable people," he says.

"We are seeing an increase in child abuse investigations, domestic abuse cases, sexual offences and the newer threats of human trafficking and modern slavery, all of which require multi-agency working and take more time to investigate than traditional property crime.

"We have also seen a large increase in the reporting of non-recent abuse offences, some of which relate to the 1970s and 1980s.

"While we absolutely support those who come forward to report these cases, there is a significant impact on our available resources, which is a challenge to manage."

He joined the police after graduating from Lancaster University, saying he was looking for an interesting career "with variety and challenge".

"I had been in my local mountain rescue team for a few years and had seen some of the work done by the police, which gave me some insight.

"I have to confess that I never had a burning ambition to be a police officer but thought I’d give it a go.

"I joined as a constable in Workington at a time when car theft, ram-raids and disorder were a fairly common occurrence.

"After completing my probation I went to Keswick.

"I had developed an interest in and aptitude for criminal investigation and applied for a detective post back in Workington, where I was posted to the CID and drug squad departments.

"In 1999 I applied for a secondment to the National Crime Squad, which was some of the most enjoyable and exciting years of my service."

This required officers to be advanced drivers, surveillance operatives and authorised firearms officers as well as investigators.

"We travelled the UK conducting surveillance operations against organised criminals," he remembers.

A return to Cumbria saw him posted to the south of the county.

"In 2003 I was called to attend Killington, just off the M6, where the burning body of an unidentified man had been found," he says.

"This was the start of a long and complex murder investigation in which I was the case officer and involved weeks of work in London."

He spent time in Spain during the course of this investigation, which led to a man being jailed for life.

Later postings included leading the county's serious and organised crime squad - with the aim of ensuring "no criminals in our county could be considered untouchable".

He was also responsible for the force's intelligence departments.

These, he says, "are largely unseen - but vital to ensure that the force identifies the biggest threats and allocates the right resources to combat them".

In 2009 he was put in charge of creating a new public protection unit to deal with issues such as child abuse, adult abuse and domestic abuse - crimes that were becoming increasingly important priorities for police nationally.

He says: "The staff working in public protection work in the highest risk areas and the stresses can be immense.

"But it is also the most rewarding area of policing as you can see the improvements you are able to make to the lives of vulnerable people."

Det Chief Supt Slattery managed the investigation team working with the coroner on the west Cumbria shootings to establish the sequence of events.

"The challenges for a small force dealing with so many victims, crime scenes and families simultaneously were enormous," he adds.

"But I was very proud of the officers and staff involved, including those who spent many months documenting the harrowing events in preparation for the inquests."

More recently he has been involved in the creation of the force's new digital investigation unit, which brings together digital forensics, digital investigation and paedophile investigators.

It uses cutting edge technology and tactics to identify and arrest those involved in the sexual exploitation of children through the internet.

But worries over the future of police funding in the Britain of austerity casts a shadow.

"Our undercover officers have been responsible for arresting many dangerous offenders both in Cumbria and further afield," he says.

"The new role comes at a time of great uncertainty as the government plans to review the police funding formula, which could have serious consequences for the resourcing of the constabulary.

"The key challenge for me now is to oversee the on-going workload while developing plans for how we might have to deliver services with less money and therefore fewer officers and staff to do it.

"Some crime has reduced slightly in recent years but we know that other areas of crime, including cyber-crime and human trafficking and modern slavery are rising and bringing new demands."

Away from the heat and spotlight of the murder investigation and the hunt for the paedophile, the seemingly simple act of putting one foot in front of the other at speed offers a welcome break.

"I’ve been a runner since I was at school and have spent my life on the fells either running, climbing, biking or with the mountain rescue," says Det Chief Supt Slattery.

"In 2013 I ran the 63 mile 42-peak Bob Graham Round, which had been a lifetime’s ambition, and gave me a taste for ultra-distance running.

"Since 2013 I have run the Fellsman, which is 61 miles, the Lakeland 100, which is 105 miles, the Cumbria Way Ultra - 79 miles - and raced over 70 miles as part of the Ultra Trail du Mont Blanc in the French alps.

"I think with age comes greater stamina and mental resilience.

"I think what I get out of ultra-running is the perspective it puts on things."