TWO west Wiltshire police inspectors who joined the force in the same year have been presented with long service and good conduct medals.

Insp Geoff Miles, section head of Warminster and Westbury and Insp Jon Tapper, section head of Trowbridge, received the medals from the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sir Maurice Johnston, at an awards ceremony at police headquarters in Devizes last Friday.

Nine other officers were awarded long service and good conduct medals and two received the Chief Constable's certificate of commendation.

Insp Tapper said: "I'm very pleased and honoured. I've been involved with so many different aspects of policing in the Wiltshire area and I've enjoyed it all.

"My new role is very challenging because I've got the busiest town in west Wiltshire. I've got lots of support from a good team, local people and different partnerships. This makes some aspects of my job easier."

Insp Tapper joined the police force in November 1979. He was promoted to sergeant in 1989 and inspector in 1998. On joining, Insp Tapper was posted to Swindon and then to Highworth as section constable. In November 1989, he was promoted and posted to the traffic division before returning to section duties at Chippenham in 1993.

He returned to traffic later that year, before joining the custody unit in September 1994. This was followed by a stint in special operation and planning at Chippenham.

He transferred to Devizes borough in 1997 until he was promoted to divisional duty inspector responsible for Calne and Malmesbury. He then became crime and disorder inspector until 2000 when he was moved to Wootten Bassett and took up his present post in April 2001.

Insp Miles joined the police a month earlier than Insp Tapper, in October 1979 and was promoted to sergeant in 1986 and inspector in 2000. He said: "I'm really chuffed about getting the medal. I still love the job after all these years as you never know what to expect when you go into work. I still get a buzz, especially when you get to arrest the bad guys."

Insp Miles was posted to section duties at Swindon, where he remained until his promotion to sergeant at Warminster in October 1986. He transferred to the custody unit in Salisbury in 1989 before returning to section duties at Trowbridge and then Melksham.

Insp Miles was posted to the custody unit at Trowbridge in 1996 and then returned to section duties at Trowbridge in 1997. He also spent time working for the complaints and discipline department and then the pro-active unit at Chippenham in 1999, where he remained until his promotion and transfer to his present role.

Long service and good conduct medals were also presented to Sgt Nicholas Blencowe, Pc Frances Brennan, Sgt Robin Colbourne, Pc Colin Davies, Detective Sgt Andrew Deegan, Sgt Eileen Egan, Pc Andrew Holyoake, Pc Paul Mulley and Chief Insp Christopher Williams.

The Chief Constable's certificate of commendation was presented to Sgt Glynn Ashforth and Pc Timothy Titchener.