THE HUNT is on to find Buckinghamshire's best beat bobby.

People who live or work in Buckinghamshire have the chance to nominate their community policeman for the fourth Thames Valley Community Beat Officer of the Year award.

Five winners will be entered for a national policing competition and the chance to receive a £3,000 travel grant.

The grant can be used by winners to enable them to learn about policing practices and different approaches to community policing in other parts of the country.

The aim of the competition is to raise public awareness of the officers and their roles within the community.

A police spokesman said: "We know how important community officers are to local residents, and one of the reasons we are introducing neighbourhood policing is so everyone knows who their local officer is and how to contact him or her.

"This competition not only gives communities an opportunity to reward a local officer who they think has done a good job, but gives the force an opportunity to show officers just how important the role of the community beat officer is."

The awards will highlight the initiatives that nominees have run to tackle crime and how they are valued by residents, local businesses and organisations.

Nominations must be submitted by Friday, June 17 to Annie Tyson, Corporate Information, Police Headquarters, Oxford Road, Kidlington, Oxford, 0X5 2NX.

Forms are available from police stations, main libraries and parish councils throughout the county.

Alternatively forms can be downloaded from the Thames Valley Police website www.thamesvalley.police.uk/communityofficer/pdf/community_officer.pdf