POLICE Superintendent Roger Young has pledged to help rid the Force of the "cancer" of corrupt officers.>

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Wycombe's police chief Roger Young looks back on a year of policing and sets out his aims for the future in an exclusive interview with SHARON HENDRY Picture shows Roger Young

POLICE Superintendent Roger Young has pledged to help rid the Force of the "cancer" of corrupt officers.

During a frank interview in which Supt Young reflected on a year of policing in the High Wycombe and Amersham areas of Chiltern Vale police, he said: "I am utterly, utterly committed to getting rid of corrupt officers."

He was quick to praise the work of Sir Paul Condon, Commissioner of the neighbouring Metropolitan Police force in tackling the issue.

"It doesn't only affect the police, it affects the public as well. I can't bear to think of a cancer growing inside our organisation."

But he also took pains to stress there is only a minority of officers who bring the police into disrepute, and he paid tribute to the way his team had cracked down on crime in the area.

He is keen to promote old-fashioned policing and added: "The only way in which a police service can work with a community is with them.

"Therefore, the random kicking in of doors and the distant approach doesn't work. My vision for the police service of the future is based in the communities. It's those communities which give us the answers."

He said he is proud of a number of successful police operations which have taken place in the area over the past year. They include Operation Firecracker, which resulted in the recovery of £35,000 worth of stolen goods, drugs, and firearms.

Figures released this week show crime in the area is down overall by eight per cent, and burglaries have fallen 25 per cent.

According to Supt Young, the reduction in burglaries is one of the best achievements. He said: "The impact of a stranger burgling your home is such a traumatic event.

"There are burglars in this town who are committing up to ten burglaries a day. It's the targeting of those types of offenders that's giving us results."

He is also dedicated to reducing fear of crime, adding: "People say: 'I don't go into Wycombe town centre on a Saturday night.' Actually, it's a very pleasant place. Mr and Mrs Average could walk up and down Wycombe High Street without the fear of being assaulted.

"It's down to everybody to change this fear. Whilst there is fear the offenders are winning."

The latest figures also show that violent crime in the Amersham area is up by eight per cent.

Supt Young explained the reason for the increase adding: "Violent crime covers a very wide area and it includes domestic incidents.

"We've had a big campaign in encouraging people to report incidents of domestic violence."

Commenting on the unsolved murders of Carolyne Jackson and Janet Brown, he said: "It does concern us but the underlying issue is that the victims seem to have been chosen as a target - they were not chosen at random.

"We're confident the offenders are not local.

"I am concerned that we've not been able to bring anyone to justice but the files are very much open," he said.

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