TRIBUTES have been paid to a well-respected former police chief inspector in Haringey and Enfield who died earlier this month.

Mark Sanger, who had retired as Enfield Council’s community safety manager in March, passed away at Chase Farm Hospital on Wednesday, December 3, following a short illness. He was 65.

His funeral takes place at St Stephen’s Church, in London Road, Enfield, on Tuesday, December 16, at 11am.

Council leader Mike Rye has praised Mr Sanger.

He said: “Mark brought unrivalled enthusiasm, intelligence, good humour and passion to his work.

“He was a towering figure in Enfield, an all too rare person.

“He was not only respected, but very much loved – and we are all the richer for knowing him and the poorer at his loss.

“Our deepest sympathies go out to his family.”

Mr Sanger, of Uvedale Road, Enfield, was a father-of-four.

He joined Enfield council in 1995 as community safety coordinator and later became the manager.

He developed the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and was a founder member of the much- praised Enfield Racial Incidents Action Group (RIAG), which was recognised for good practice in the McPherson Report into the murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993.

Mr Sanger’s widow Karen, 62, said: “Mark only retired in March and worked so hard that it is a pity he did not get to enjoy his retirement. He will be hugely missed.”

The family asked that anyone attending St Stephen’s Church is seated by 10.45am. The service at noon at Enfield Crematorium will be followed by a reception at Royal Chace Hotel, in The Ridgeway, Enfield.

Friends and ex-colleagues are welcome. Flowers to Arron Black Undertakers, 6 Bush Hill Parade, Bury Street West, Edmonton, or contributions to the Alzheimer’s Disease Society.