ALMOST twice as many police officers quit the Thames Valley force last year than did so in 2001, according to Government figures.

During 2006 there were 47 resignations, from the force, compared with 27 in 2001.

Thames Valley Police could not explain why there was a rise in resignations but added that the number of officers transferring their jobs to the Metropolitan Police had halved since 2002-3.

The figures were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.

TVP spokesman Tim Prince said the numbers of resignations has risen by about 20 in the past five years.

He added: "We now have lots more officers in the force than five years ago so the percentage will be pretty consistent.

"We have done some work to see if it is certain ages or experiences which are leaving the force but there has not been a specific trend."

The number of resignations in 2006 was the equivalent of 1.08 per cent of officers.

The force came 39th out of 52 police forces with the highest rate of resignations in the United Kingdom last year.

Nationally, there were 2,714 resignations in 2006, but there are no separate figures for Oxfordshire.

The number of officers leaving Thames Valley Police for The Met Police in London halved from 86 during the financial year of 2002 and 2003 down to 43 in 2006/07.

Five years ago transfers to the Metropolitan force were a major problem because officers were being offered better wages and free travel to London.