A SENIOR Essex Police officer is set to join the UK’s top law enforcement agency.

Deputy chief constable Matthew Horne will join the National Crime Agency (NCA) as deputy director general with responsibility for operations.

Mr Horne will initially join in April on secondment.

He will join four other new members of the agency’s senior leadership team.

Director general Lynne Owens said: “These are five exceptional people who bring new dimensions of skill and knowledge to the top team.

“We are streamlining the agency’s structure, reducing operational silos and providing clearer strategic direction and delivery, all of which will help the agency focus firmly on tackling the high end of high risk offending.”