The police chief charged with making sure officers visit every victim of crime in a new scheme admits it has not been easy.

Thames Valley Police is running a pilot scheme in south Oxfordshire where every victim of crime sees a member of the force if they want to do so.

The aim is to reassure people who are victims of low-level trouble such as criminal damage, car crime or shed and garage break-ins - not necessarily to solve the crimes.

The initiative aims to combat complaints that police have not been interested in low-level crime. As revealed in Tuesday's Oxford Mail, it is set to be rolled out across the rest of Oxfordshire later this year.

But South Oxfordshire police commander Supt Andy Murray admits it is proving challenging.

He said: "Crime-solving is not the objective of this but it may well be the spin-off. The primary objective is better quality of service to victims.

"All our surveys show us when we speak to people face-to-face they tell us they have a better quality of service.

"We cannot pretend it's been easy. At times it has been difficult to manage, but it is all worth the effort if we have the general public are saying they are receiving a better service."

Mr Murray admitted previously his officers would only visit victims if there was a very good chance of solving the crime.

But he denied his officers would select their visits so it would boost detection figures.

Mr Murray added: "Where previously if there has been no investigative leads then there would not have been a visit.

"Police would concentrate their resources to those with the best chance of being solved.

"But that ignores the victims who want a bit of reassurance and those who want to speak to a police officer face-to-face.

"Now with the extension of the police family (Police Community Support Officers) we can afford to give extra service to a victim. We think victims of crime deserve a lot more than a letter."

The scheme began in south Oxfordshire last November and was due to last just three months.

But it proved so popular it is now to be rolled out across Oxfordshire and the rest of the Thames Valley by the end of the year.

About 79 response and neighbourhood police officers and 32 PCSOs have been carrying out visits.

Senior investigative officers, who always visit victims of major crimes such as house burglary and robbery, have continued their visits unchanged.

Mr Murray added there was no extra paperwork involved for officers.

Wantage MP Ed Vaizey said: "Answering people's letters, responding to emails or going to see people can achieve half the job.

"Thames Valley Police might find it improves their policing record because by going to see individual people you end up picking up odds and ends that may prove useful."