WILTSHIRE Police has sailed through its first public inspection with flying colours, achieving good or excellent ratings in 12 out of 16 areas.

Officials from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary have named the best and worst performing forces in England and Wales for the first time, with Wiltshire near the top of the pile.

The HMIC graded each force on 16 areas, including crime statistics, leadership and internal management, awarding ratings from poor to excellent.

Both Wiltshire Constabulary's crime and disorder reduction tactics and public reassurance methods were deemed 'excellent'.

The force's handling of hate crimes, race and diversity issues and calls from the public all received 'good' ratings.

Police chiefs were also commended for how the force reacted and dealt with major incidents, such as the armed siege in Trowbridge and high-profile cases like the murder of Bradford on Avon beauty consultant Natalie Williams.

Wiltshire police chiefs will want to use the glowing report as ammunition in their fight to resist Home Office merger plans.

In a public consultation period, 75 per cent of people polled were against the force merging with any of its immediate neighbours. Home Secretary David Blunkett is expected to announce a major shake-up of force structure later this year.

Wiltshire Police Authority chairman Bertie Woolnaugh said despite the encouraging report, improvements could always be made.

"It is good to note that the investment placed in call-handling, additional visible patrols, better radio communications and our nationally-renowned E-policing project has been recognised," he added.

Mr Woolnaugh said Wiltshire residents would get a chance to quiz their local police commanders at meetings to be held countywide next month.

Memorial day 'long overdue'

THE SISTER of a policeman killed in Trowbridge 25 years ago believes a national memorial day for officers killed in action has been long overdue.

Father-of-two PC Desmond Kellam was killed in 1979 when burglar David James bludgeoned him with a billhook.

The officer's sister, Gina Derry, 42, said a service at St Paul's Cathedral, in October, for families of 4,000 police officers who have died or been killed on duty over the last 175 years, was a welcome step.

The murder of PC Kellam sent shockwaves across the country.

Mrs Derry, of London, said her 82-year-old mother Ruth would want to attend the service, along with officers representing the Wiltshire force.

"This service is something which has been missing from our society for a long while. We remember so many other things, it is time to fill the gap," she said.

"As a family we have been left on the sidelines a little bit. It will be good to meet with other people in a similar position.

"My mum bought a seat for Des in the Surrey village where he grew up. We went and sat on it at the weekend. It is pleasing for us that so many people remember him."

Ministers, politicians and high-ranking police officers will be at the service on October 3.