Ref. 27788-22TWO Swindon police officers have been nominated for a national award for their dedication to the force.

PC Andrew Leigh-Cattrall and PC James Martin will travel to London on Thursday, when the winners of the Jane's Police Review Awards will be announced.

Police officers from across the country are nominated for the annual competition, organised by Jane's the publishing company which creates Police Review, a weekly news magazine.

PC Leigh-Cattrall has been nominated for the Community Police Officer of the Year award and PC Martin is in line for the Probationer of the Year accolade.

PC Leigh-Cattrall, 32, said: "I was very shocked and have just done my job. But I do take pride in being meticulous and seeing a job through to the very end."

He has served in the police force for the past 12 years, five of which were spent working for Scotland Yard national intelligence units.

PC Leigh-Cattrall joined the Swindon division two years ago and has achieved impressive results with community policing initiatives.

Covering the west sector in Swindon, he has worked against anti-social behaviour, domestic violence, theft, vandalism and the supply of Class-A drugs.

Recently PC Leigh-Cattrall was involved in the prosecution of a commercial thief, who had raided more than 50 local small businesses within six months.

He said: "I first encountered the offender three years ago and recognised his methods.

"So I followed his trail and he is now in prison. It is satisfying to know that I have helped small businesses survive, because they simply cannot cover the cost of repeated burglaries. Making people feel safer makes the job worthwhile."

PC Martin, 25, has been in the force, stationed at Swin-don, for two years and has just passed his probation.

Based in the town centre, he has been instrumental in developing the work of the Swindon Crime Retail Initiative Project.

The project involves working with store detectives to combat shoplifting.

PC Martin said: "It is a real honour to be nominated and quite surprising. I tend not to let things drop and aim to give 100 per cent commitment."

Besides volunteering to train as a gay and lesbian liaison officer, he is also a member of the Territorial Army.

Earlier this year he was called to RAF Lyneham to cover duties for soldiers while they served in Iraq.

He said: "I try to get involved as much as possible. If that means putting in extra effort, so be it."

Acting Det Insp Jerry Butcher, based in Devizes, has also been nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Det Insp Butcher, originally from Penhill, has been in the police force since he was 18.

He is due to retire in March.

Det Insp Butcher has been involved in numerous successful drug and homicide investigations.

Since January he has been in temporary command of the major crime support unit, developing his management skills.

Det Insp Butcher said: "I am embarrassed to be singled out and nominated because there are so many unsung heroes in the force."

vtagg@newswilts.co.uk