Outgoing Tottenham police chief Linda Newham need not be lonely in her retirement shell be joined by an old equine friend from the force.

As a special retirement present from her colleagues at Tottenham police station, Chief Superintendent Newham is to take charge of a former police horse.

After two years in charge of Tottenham Division, and 31 years in the police, CS Newham is to retire following her recent marriage.

She and her husband will be joined in their Northumberland home by the horse, named Limba.

CS Newham, 50, joined Northumberland police back in 1967. After moving up through the ranks she became Chief Superintendent of Kentish Town police in 1991. In 1996, soon after moving to Tottenham, she took on the massive task of running policing for the Euro 96 football competition.

She was awarded the Queens Police Medal in 1997, and in the same year ran the Great North Run half-marathon in aid of victim support.

Paying tribute to CS Newham, Tottenham police sergeant Steve Wilcox said: During her time here crime has fallen, and Tottenham police have the lowest level of sick leave in the Met.

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