BASILDON and Thur- rock's two top cops are on the move.

Divisional commander Chief Supt Simon Coxall and his number two, newly promoted chief supt Glenn Caton, are both leaving this week to take on new roles at Essex Police's Chelmsford headquarters.

Mr Coxall, who has been at the helm of South Western division covering both towns for two-and-a-half years, is leaving to head up the force's crime division.

He will head up Essex Police's murder squad detectives, special branch, child abuse investigation teams and the fraud squad.

The 48-year-old will also be in charge of the Cold Case Review team, which he set up in 2003 to investigate unsolved crimes.

Mr Coxall, who has done 24 year's service, said he was sad to be leaving Basildon and Thurrock.

He said: "I'm very proud to have been here, I never would have chosen to have been in any other division.

"The team of officers here is second to none and daily they put themselves at risk and work long hours to protect the people of Basildon and Thurrock."

His departure comes as Supt Glenn Caton, formerly Basildon's district commander, also leaves to take up the role of head of communications at headquarters.

There he will oversee how the force deals with emergency and non-urgent calls as well as recording of offences.

Mr Caton, who has spent 16 of his 27 year's police service in Basildon, said he hopes to come back in the future. He said: "I hope to return some day as the divisional commander for Basildon and Thurrock."

The 45-year-old said forging relations between police and the traveller community were among his achievements.

Chief Supt Maurice Mason, who is currently head of communications, and supt Ivor Harvey, currently district commander at Epping Forest, will replace the pair.