CORSHAM has a new bobby on the beat and a new policing strategy for the town centre.

A radical overhaul of the way the town centre is policed has coincided with the appointment of Nigel Williams.

Under the new system, the town centre has been divided into three beat areas, with individual constables having responsibility for their own patch. But despite having their own areas, all Corsham's officers will overlap to police the town on a daily basis.

"Now the public can identify with an individual officer and that officer will be the focal point for their area," said Inspector Ray Josey. "It is important that each area has an identifiable police officer."

PC Williams, 42,will be responsible for the area to the east of the town centre.

For the last few years he has been teaching new recruits in Chippenham about life on the beat and is keen to practise what he has been preaching.

"This is the kind of policing I like doing getting out there and getting involved," he said.

WPC Hazel Thorburn takes on the area to the south of the railway line as well as the Pockeridge and Potley estates while PC Shaun Hunt's beat will be Pickwick.