Bruce Horne pleased to be back in the hot seat

BACK IN CHARGE: Area Commander Bruce Horne has returned to the top role. PHOTO/FILE

Rotorua police Area Commander Superintendent Bruce Horne is back in the hot seat after a year away for personal and professional development.

Mr Horne spent some time working in the Waitemata police district on the North Shore, studying with the Australian Institute of Police Management and six months as executive support officer in the police commissioner's office in Wellington.

He returned to his Rotorua role this week.

"This is a beautiful part of the world," he said.

"The Bay of Plenty community is well served by the police here."

Mr Horne said working in the police commissioner's office was an opportunity open to only two people each year.

"For an area commander it's encouraging to have that assurance that we have an executive that operationally focused.

"The commissioner has his own line-up, like we do in the police station.

"Every day the executive talk about what has been happening around the country in the previous 24 hours and planning support for the staff in the front- line."

He said he was pleased to be back working in Rotorua and was looking forward to the move into the new police station, which is due to happen next month.