Retiring Police Inspector Tim Richards. 28/10/04AFTER 30 years' service with Wiltshire Constabulary, Inspector Tim Richards is stepping down as section commander at Amesbury, to enjoy a well-deserved retirement.

Insp Richards (51), who officially retires on Sunday, joined the police force in October 1974. Following a period of basic training, he was sent to Swindon, where he stayed for the next few years.

In February 1978, PC Richards was posted to Tidworth, before returning to Swindon 15 months later. He remained there until December 1986, when was he sent to Salisbury on promotion to sergeant.

Between 1993 and 1998, he was based in Tidworth and Wilton, returning to Salisbury in 1999 following promotion to inspector. His final posting was in August 2000 to Amesbury, where he was brought up and where some of his family still live.

During his time in Amesbury, Insp Richards has seen crime and antisocial behaviour fall and he is proud that Amesbury is now widely regarded as one of the safest areas in this country.

"This is down to two things," said Insp Richards, who is married with two grown-up children.

"The first is good solid teamwork and I am very proud of that. The second is working in partnership with the local community."

Insp Richards said he had found the job very rewarding. He added: "There is great satisfaction helping other people and I shall miss that. I wish my successor, Inspector Mike Ashford-Smith, all the best - Amesbury is very lucky to have him."

Insp Ashford-Smith takes over the role of section commander at Amesbury on Monday.

He joined Wiltshire Constabulary in May 2003, after 17 years with the Lothian & Borders Police.

Since arriving in Wiltshire, he has been a response inspector, based in Salisbury. Originally from Oxfordshire, Insp Ashford-Smith (41) was formerly a soldier, joining the army at the age of 16 in 1980.

Between 1982 and 1986, he served with the Royal Military Police in Germany, Northern Ireland and Edinburgh. Insp Ashford-Smith joined Lothian & Borders Police in 1986, serving in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders.

In addition to uniformed patrol, he worked in the traffic branch, the force inspectorate and the firearms support unit, with numerous duties as a close protection officer.

On promotion to inspector in 2002, he became a traffic operations inspector in Edinburgh until transferring to Wiltshire.

Insp Ashford-Smith is looking forward to his new job and to meeting the public in Amesbury and surrounding areas.

He said: "This is a completely new role for me and I intend to build on the excellent results already achieved by Insp Tim Richards and his staff over the years. I also look forward to working in a military community once again."

Insp Ashford-Smith is married with two children and lives in the Westbury area.