crime in the Tidworth and Ludgershall area rose for the first time in eight years during the last year, parish councillors have been told.

The number of crimes rose by more than 15 per cent in the year ending 31 March 2004 but police say they are going to come down hard on those responsible.

Section commander, Sgt Paul Oatway, who steps down as an officer after 32 years with Wiltshire Constabulary later this month, promised action - 'business as usual until 5pm' - on his retirement day.

"We are getting to grips with crime, we know where that crime is taking place and we know who is committing that crime, he said.

"We have identified six persistent offenders in our community and they are being targeted and hunted down. We arrested them last week, this week, last night and will be arresting them next week and we intend to prosecute them.

"There is no cautioning and our policy is charge, charge, charge leading to court, court, court."

He said the police had fulfilled their obligations in Tidworth and added that his patience with youth offenders in particular had run out.

Despite the rise in crime the detection rate in Tidworth remained the highest in the county and he believed the area remained the safest in Wiltshire - possibly the country. To enable police to maintain these levels in future he urged people to continue to report crime as soon as possible as this enabled officers to catch criminals in the act.

Sgt Oatway has been in charge in Tidworth since 1996 and councillor Andrew Connolly, who was parish council chairman for much of that time, spoke of his contribution to the community.

He said: "I can remember what it was like before the 'Oatway years' -there was a lot of crime, disorder and disturbance. Paul Oatway has been the best sergeant this community has ever had."