Norfolk's assistant chief constable will be retiring this month after a career which has spanned more than 36 years.

Kevin Wilkins, who retires on Thursday, joined Norfolk Constabulary in May 1976. The former Norwich School pupil, who was born in Norwich in a house at the top of Gas Hill, said he was proud to have served the people of Norfolk for so long. He said: 'I've had the privilege of being able to police in Norfolk for the whole of my career. It's just the way job opportunities came up. I was born in Norwich, went to school in Norwich. I've enjoyed policing the whole county – being able to work with people across the county for the benefit of the county.'

Mr Wilkins started his career as a PC in Swaffham before moving to Norwich, Thetford and then Great Yarmouth. He was promoted through the ranks, reaching the level of superintendent in 1995 when he took charge of the community relations department before being appointed as the southern divisional commander based at Thetford. In 2000, he was promoted to chief superintendent and took command of the newly formed Eastern Area covering Yarmouth, North Norfolk and Broadland.

He was appointed assistant chief constable in October 2005 and has the responsibility for local policing, criminal justice and royalty/VIP protection.

Mr Wilkins said one of his career highlights was overseeing Norwich City's three Uefa Cup matches, including the one against Bayern Munich, while a chief inspector in Norwich.

He said: 'That was a really good time in terms of football policing. People say what was your best job – that was one of my best jobs.'

Mr Wilkins is to take up a new role as head of criminal justice for Norfolk and Suffolk at the end of September.

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