A recruitment crisis faced by Thames Valley Police due to the high cost of living appears to have been averted.

Soaring house prices were forcing officers to transfer to forces in other parts of the country - or London, where the Metropolitan force pays more.

But top-up mortgage schemes, loans to buy houses, bonus schemes and pension changes have all played a part in easing the manpower shortage.

Yesterday, Tuesday, August 3, chief officers welcomed new figures showing the force has 4,124 full-time equivalent officers in post - exceeding the target of 4,117 set for 2004-2005 by the police authority.

The force reached 4,000 officers for the first time in its history six months ago.

The level of police support staff has also risen to the highest in the force's history - at 2,865.

Sally Hannon, chairman of the Thames Valley Police Authority, said: "We are extremely pleased to see that the efforts of the authority, the force and our partners have been rewarded with officer numbers reaching an all-time high.'

The Police Redeployment Programme has also released nearly 400 officers to frontline duties.

In 2004/5, there will also be 40 police community support officers provided in partnership with local authorities.

Chief Insp Hugh Matthews, the force's head of strategic resourcing, said: "We are working with our partners to deliver a visible presence, provide reassurance and tackle identified problems."

Last October it emerged that the force was spending £50,000 a year to employ and train every new recruit, while at the same time other forces were luring away experienced Thames Valley officers.