crime figures for the year ended this April show that the Tidworth police section was the safest part of the county with the highest detection rate for crimes.

Sgt Paul Oatway told members of Tidworth Parish Council of his pride in his team.

This year the police set themselves a target of a reduction in crime of three per cent and a detection rate of 31 per cent.

In the event crime in the section fell by 4.5 per cent and the clear up rate was 39.8 per cent, well ahead of the force average.

Of more than 2,000 incidents which needed police attendance 89 per cent were met within the target of 10 minutes in Tidworth and Ludger-shall and 20 per cent in the more rural areas.

"These things just don't happen but are the result of determination, professionalism and sheer guts to get the job done," he said.

He thanked the community for its support, which he said was crucial - particularly the early reporting of incidents. "When Mr Connolly's shop was subjected to a burglary by two drunken yobs the prompt action of a member of the public in dialling 999 resulted in two men arrested at the scene," he said.

"One of them is serving a period of imprisonment.

"When another member of the public heard his own house being burgled and called us we were on the scene within two minutes and nicked an habitual criminal who is now serving a long prison sentence."

On the subject of youth anti-social behaviour, he warned police would press ahead with the implementation of anti-social behaviour orders.

On drugs he promised to continue his well-known robust approach to users and dealers.

"There's no hiding for people with drugs," he said.

The most worrying figure produced by Sgt Oatway was a 50 per cent rise in violent crime and domestic violence which he described as 'totally unacceptable'.

In one incident three officers, including a WPc, were assaulted and as a result of the violence two of them reported unfit for duty.

After 32 years in a police uniform some might be hoping Sgt Oatway will be retiring soon. But he said: "I'm still on the stage, there's lots to be done, the curtain hasn't fallen yet."