HAVING played a leading role in taking Malmesbury police station to the top of the county crime busting charts Sgt Gavin Williams is moving on.

The 35-year-old has been promoted to Acting Inspector at the divisional headquarters in Melksham, where he will be in charge of the custodial suite.

Friday, June 3 was his last day in Malmesbury, and he was sad to be leaving.

He said: "I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute of Malmesbury.

"It's a great station with good staff and I will be sorry to leave.

"However, it's just one of those opportunities that comes up that can't be turned down."

He took over at Malmesbury in February 2003, after nine months as sergeant at Wootton Bassett.

In the last year, crime detection rates in the Malmesbury section reached 36.2 percent, making it the most successful station in Wiltshire, and crime over the whole year dropped by 16.9 percent.

Much of the crime has been committed by 'travelling' criminals coming over neighbouring borders policed by Gloucestershire and Somerset and Avon Constabularies.

Sgt Williams explained: "That's the problem we've suffered traditionally.

"We've had to get a better standard in the way we deal with things and work more closely with surrounding forces because this holds the key to most of our crimes."

During his time in Malmesbury, anti-social behaviour has been slashed, the introduction of CCTV has moved a step nearer and alcohol exclusion zones are set to be introduced.

"For me, Malmesbury is probably the best job I've done in terms of job satisfaction and enjoyment," he added.

The new Sergeant in Malmesbury will be 34-year-old Matt Armstrong, who leaves Chippenham after two-and-a-half years.

He said: "It's a greater responsibility for me and it develops me as a police officer.

"I can only carry on what Gavin's done and develop things as they come in.

"For me it's going to be an eye opener, it's a rural community, having been working in towns it will be a very different way of working."