Sergeant Andy Holian, who took up the role in Saddleworth earlier this year, attended Saddleworth Parish Council this week to talk about his work in the community and what he hoped to add to the area.

He has 22 years of police service behind him, all of it in Oldham, and said he seized the opportunity to move to Saddleworth when the post came up. He told councillors it was "the area I'd most enjoyed when I was working, so I really threw myself at the role."

His visit came in a month when reported crime across Saddleworth was around a third lower than in previous months.

Sergeant Holian said one of his first changes was to make better use of police teams already working in the area. The community speed watch team had been operating out of a shed, and he moved them into the station straight away.

"They are absolutely a part of our team, so I immediately moved them into the station," he said. "Speeding is the most reported crime in our area, and they are really important in showing people that we take that seriously."

He has also opened the station to teams covering the wider area and encouraged road policing training teams to practise in Saddleworth. He said this raises the visibility of officers and helps give people confidence that police are in their communities.

Councillors asked him about speed cameras at dangerous spots such as the crossroads in Denshaw, how residents can get information to officers, and his priorities for the area.

He said issues around Dove Stone reservoir were a priority, and that he wanted to see more community involvement with the RSPB, which now runs the car park and the whole site. He is also looking to set up a public space protection order (PSPO) covering the reservoir itself, as the current one only covers the surrounding land, to reduce the chances of future fatalities from people swimming there carelessly.

Parish Council chair Barbara Beeley said: "The Parish Council is really grassroots level politics, where we help to build our communities. That's what good neighbourhood policing does as well, and we're delighted to have seen Sergeant Holian not just at our council meetings, but out at local community groups, being visible and learning about what makes Saddleworth special. These relationships are vital to ensuring Saddleworth can continue to see lower levels of crime, and make sure people feel safe in our area."