WILTSHIRE'S new Chief Constable Martin Richards, who oversaw an awards ceremony, was one of those to be honoured.

Mr Richards, who joined the Wiltshire force in September, was one of several police officers who received a long service and good conduct medal.

Such medals are presented after police officers serve a minimum of 22 years and Mr Richards, presiding over his first awards ceremony, injected some humour by recalling what was in the news and what records were at top of the charts in 1981 and 1982 which is when the recipients started their careers.

Mr Richards, who started his police career in Warwickshire, then Avon and Somerset before joining Wiltshire last year, was accompanied by his wife, Judith.

He praised those receiving the awards and said: "Wiltshire is the safest police area in the country because of the achievements of those receiving awards.

"Wiltshire police is about reducing crime, detecting more crime and a phrase that seems to have gone out of the English language, public service."

Mr Richards said he wanted to invite the public to future police award ceremonies so they could get a greater understanding of how the police service works.

Those receiving long service and good conduct medals included PC Roger Blythin, currently a traffic officer at Swindon. PC Blythin received a Chief Constable's Commendation in 1986 for arresting a mentally deranged man in Swindon who was armed with two knives.

Others included DC Angela Bryant based at Kennet CID. In 1998 DC Bryant received a crown court and Chief Constable's Commendation for devotion to duty in the longest ever enquiry conducted by the force in relation to the Zoe Evans murder case.

Det Sgt David Done, who is currently working on the Porton Down inquiry, has also worked in Chippenham and Malmesbury. In 1989 he received a Chief Constable's commendation for carrying out an investigation in two continents which had no precedent in British legal history.

Acting Inspector Michael Jones based at the intelligence unit at police headquarters has served in Chippenham, Malmesbury and the regional crime squad. In June 2002 he received a Chief Constable's certificate of merit for the exceptionally high standard of file preparation against 17 people arrested in an operation into the drug trade in Chippenham.

Inspector Mark Levitt, based at Wootton Bassett has also worked in Chippenham and Swindon.

In March 2002 he received a certificate of merit for his actions in saving the life of a man who was threatening to jump from a bridge in Cricklade.

PC Timothy Mobey is currently working as high risk offenders officer in Swindon.

In 1990 he received a crown court commendation for bravery in Swindon when a man he was arresting for attempted burglary attacked him with a knife.

PC Mark Stowell, an intelligence officer at police headquarters, received a crown court and Chief Constable's commendation in 1999 for the investigation into the theft of high value hire vehicles from Germany. The vehicles were stored in Swindon before being exported to Nigeria.

Other recipients were DC Martin Pitchford of the major crime support unit and Sgt Trevor Gazzard, based at Swindon custody suite.

Penelope Colman, a secretary at Swindon traffic department, received a long service certificate for 22 years service. She previously worked at Swindon Careers Centre.