SERGEANT Deborah Ashley is the latest recruit to join the team at Corsham police station.

Sgt Ashley joined the team after a series of reshuffles within the constabulary and she is looking forward to working closely with the community.

Before moving to Wiltshire last year, she worked for the Metropolitan Police, spending time working on its murder squad and racial crimes unit.

"This is obviously a very different job, I can't deny that. But there are many things that I learnt there that I can bring here," she said.

Sgt Ashley started policing 18 years ago in Gloucester where she worked in the community beat team and CID.

In 1990 she moved to the Metropolitan Police in Hammersmith.

"I started by policing major public events like football matches. Then I moved to Kingston Upon Thames and worked within youth offending," she said.

As she gained more experience, she moved into the hate crime unit and worked with domestic crime and had special responsibility within the racial crime unit.

Eventually she worked in the dedicated murder squad.

"There was a team of 20 and sometimes we would be dealing with one murder a week. It was hard work," she said.

Sergeant Ashley said she moved with her husband, Nick, to Wiltshire because they wanted to get out of London.

She was transferred to Chippenham where she became response sergeant last October.

"I was then asked if I wanted to come to Corsham and, of course, I said yes."

Her husband also transferred from the Metropolitan Police and was appointed inspector in Swindon.

In February this year he was promoted to chief inspector of the north Wiltshire police division.

Sgt Ashley has replaced Sgt Ian Bamber who has been promoted to division inspector of Calne and Corsham.

The position of division inspector became available after Inspector Ray Josey moved to a position in Devizes.