Police sergeant James Williams is relishing his new role as head of Melksham’s Neighbourhood Policing Team, which will see him return to police his home town.

He took over as head of the community policing team, which covers Melksham and the surrounding villages, last Thursday, 12 years after he first left the town where he was born.

Sgt Williams, 39, took over from Sgt Sean Brady, who left before Christmas to take over the Warminster NPT.

He said: “It’s been very interesting, there is already lots to do.

“I have been based in Melksham custody for four years, and before that I was a sergeant in Chippenham and Trowbridge, so it’s nice to get out and about outside of the four walls of the custody suite.

“I went to the George Ward School, and I have still got friends and family living here, so there’s a lot of pressure on me to do the job properly.”

He will now lead the eight-strong team of PCs and PCSOs who cover the Melksham beat.

He said: “Melksham is a really safe town, and we’re focusing on anti-social behaviour and rural crime at the moment.

“I’m now trying to get to as many meetings as I can; with PubWatch, the Neighbourhood Tasking Group and the local councils, to get my face known.

“The people that phone in and report crime are our eyes and ears in the community; they are very important to help prevent and detect crime, and I want to get to know as many people as possible, and for the town to want to know us, and tell us what’s going on.

“Policing busy areas like Trowbridge and Chippenham you’re fighting fires, always rushing to the next job, but Melksham will be different as I will have more time to focus on long-term problems.”

The Melksham NPT can be contacted via 101, through their Facebook page, or at melkshamnpt@wiltshirepnn. police.uk