Crime victims were last night promised they will soon get a visit from police - every time they ring Thames Valley Police.

The force has been criticised in the past for a perceived lack of interest when officers fail to attend scenes of crimes.

A pilot scheme in South Oxfordshire has seen the number of victims visited by police officers doubled in the past six months.

Earlier this year police were criticised when they failed to turn up as a 44-year-old man was attacked by a gang of 10 yobs in Hertford Street, Oxford, or after 12 cars were broken into in one hour in Abingdon.

Last night Chief Constable Sara Thornton admitted visiting victims might not increase the amount of crimes solved. But she added: "I believe it could be successful if people feel reassured and feel engaged. It might not matter to detection rates but that reason doesn't mean it's a bad thing.

"Successful policing can be about demonstrating concern and interest not just detection."

The scheme is due to be rolled out across Thames Valley by November.

Before the pilot, which is also running in two other areas outside Oxfordshire, about 40 per cent of victims were visited by police or community support officers. That has increased to about 80 per cent.

Previously police would rarely attend if there was only a very small chance of solving the crime.

Miss Thornton said the scheme had been devised after consultation with members of the public about what sort of police force they wanted. She added: "Last year we spent a lot of time going to people and asking what is important.

"What we are trying to do is reflect what people think is important."

Last week Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Cheshire, criticised target-driven policing for giving too many youngsters criminal records.

Four other forces recently announced initiatives to restore common sense, and not hand out cautions and penalty notices just to reach Government targets.

In November last year Miss Thornton denied her officers focused on minor crimes to meet Government targets. Her statement followed claims by her predecessor Peter Neyroud, who told a lecture that during his time in Thames Valley officers were more concerned with meeting targets than tackling serious crimes.