A police officer who enlisted the help of more than 100 volunteers to combat hare coursing has been named as one of Thames Valley's top community beat officers.

Pc Pete Hale is one of nine nominated officers attending a special ceremony next month for the force's community officer of the year award.

Pc Hale, who is hoping for an award

Pc Hale, based at Abingdon, was nominated by colleagues and the public for his work strengthening community links in rural areas. For the past three years he has been southern Oxfordshire's rural community beat officer.

One of his key achievements was the creation of Countrywatch in 1991, when he was a beat officer in Burford.

He said: "I was sat on top of a hill very early one morning overlooking Burford when it dawned on me that I was the only officer on duty responsible for the area.

"I thought that if I got all the community involved in what was happening in west Oxfordshire, then it would not only be a great help for me but it might help to bring the community together."

Countrywatch has been successful tackling illegal hare coursing.

Pc Hale arranged meetings with farmers and landowners. He enlisted the help of volunteers to be the eyes and ears of the police in remote areas where coursing took place.

During a clampdown in 2001-2002, 37 people were convicted of hare coursing, fines exceeding £8,000 were imposed, two people were cautioned and five vehicles confiscated.

This is the first year of the award, which aims to celebrate officers' contributions to their community.

The ceremony is at Drayton Golf Club, near Abingdon, on December 9, attended by Chief Constable Peter Neyroud.