A BEAT officer, described as well known and well respected, has won the title of Community Officer of the Year for Oxfordshire.

PC Pip Walker, neighbourhood officer for Cholsey and the surrounding villages, has been particularly commended for her hands-on approach to reducing vandalism.

Alan Dawe, vice-chairman of Cholsey Parish Council, who nominated PC Walker, said: "She has introduced an arrangement whereby teenagers apprehended for causing minor damage or defacing with graffiti are required to make good the damage, under her supervision.

"This is an effective deterrent. Her reasonable approach earns her respect with the teenagers, and indeed in the wider community."

PC Walker joined Thames Valley Police in 1990.

Speaking of her current role as neighbourhood officer, a position she has held for five years, she said: "I enjoy frontline policing a great deal. It is very rewarding when I attend Parish Council meetings and fetes, and people stop to talk to me, or kids run up to me and know my name.

"I feel honoured that people see me as a friend rather than just a member of the police."

PC Walker's beat covers Cholsey, Moulsford, North and South Morton, Aston Tirrold, Aston Upthorpe, and East and West Hagbourne. She added: "I try to be where people want me to be and keep them regularly updated. Being the first point of contact, I make sure that I don't alienate people, and often involve the community in the problem solving process."

Ian Miles, parish clerk in Cholsey, also nominated PC Walker for the award. He said: "Pip has earned wide respect in this community. She has a good relationship with the parish council, and in particular she has established a rapport with the youth of the village."

Speaking of her accolade, PC Walker added: "I am truly honoured to have been nominated. It reassures me that I am helping people and making a difference. I am so pleased to have won for the community."

Assistant Chief Constable Nick Gargan, responsible for Local Policing, said: "I was delighted to see that we had received a record number of nominations from the public.

"These nominations mean a great deal to us and I am very grateful to everyone who took the time to put a name forward.

"We are continuing to build momentum towards the full roll-out of Neighbourhood Policing by April 2008. These awards enable us to show to an internal and external audience what excellence looks like in local policing. Our winners are the best in their field when it comes to building relationships with communities and doing new and exciting things when it comes to community safety.

"I am extremely proud not just of the winners but of everyone who has been nominated. I know that they all appreciate the fact that somebody took the time to say thank you."

The Community Policing Awards are an annual competition run to recognise staff who have excelled in their neighbourhoods as a community officer, police community support officer, special constable, student officer or as a volunteer*.

It provides an opportunity for residents, community organisations and businesses to nominate a member of Thames Valley Police staff who they think deserves recognition for their outstanding work in the community.

Overall, more than 300 nominations were received for this year's Community Policing Awards which are sponsored by West Oxfordshire Motor Auction and Ian and Caroline Laing.

The winners and finalists will be invited to a ceremony on November 8 when they will be presented with their award.