CORSHAM has a new police sergeant with 17 years experience and many strings to his bow.

Steve McGrath started in the north Wiltshire town at the end of last month and is an officer who has worked across the county and in a wide range of roles, including CID, custody and the burglary and proactive crime units.

The rugby enthusiast, who turned 38 last week, said he was thrilled to have started his new role and is looking forward to taking a proactive approach to tackling crime.

Sgt McGrath has worked in Melksham, Trowbridge, Salisbury, Marlborough and most recently covering for duty inspectors.

He said his officers would be focusing on troublesome areas to expose crime before dealing with it effectively He said: "The former Sergeant, John Rogers concentrated on reducing crime and increasing detection rates, which is fantastic.

"However, when we go into areas from now on we may be slightly increasing the number of crimes reported in order to expose them and then deal with them."

Sgt McGrath explained that by concentrating on particular areas it was likely that more crime would be uncovered.

He said these may be things that had gone previously unreported but he said he hopes this will benefit the community.

"I look through the papers not only at how crime is reported but at other news stories that effect people to see what other problems we may have in the area," he said.

Sgt McGrath lives in Melksham with his wife Julia and eight-year-old son, Over the past few weeks, Corsham police have executed two drugs warrants in Kington St Michael and Lacock.

Sgt McGrath added: "We are always willing for people to get in touch with one of the three neighbourhood policing teams or the two rural Chippenham teams based here."

Contact police by calling 0845 408 7000.