A former Bradford police chief has taken up his post as second in command of West Yorkshire Police.

John Parkinson has been appointed Deputy Chief Constable of the Force, and took up the role yesterday.

He was head of the groundbreaking Bradford-based Operation Recall team, which gained national TV recognition for its high-tech investigations into historic sex attacks.

A team of detectives in the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, working with forensic scientists, was set up at Dudley Hill police station in Bradford to re-examine unsolved cases dating back 30 years.

Mr Parkinson formed the team after attending a Home Office-led conference in 2004 aimed at helping police look at unsolved sex attacks through forensic reviews.

The success of the team, using trailblazing advances in DNA techniques, was highlighted in a TV programme, Rapists: The Day Of Reckoning, which followed the team during its investigations.

Mr Parkinson has replaced David Crompton, who has been appointed Chief Constable of South Yorkshire Police.

Det Chief Con Parkinson joined West Yorkshire Police in 1979 as a cadet.

He said: “I am very proud to take up such a prestigious role after starting here over 30 years ago and working in every part of the force.”