HE has covered thousands of miles on the beat in north Suffolk and helped provide a thin blue line in times of national strife, but this week a police officer called time on 28 years of service.

HE has covered thousands of miles on the beat in north Suffolk and helped provide a thin blue line in times of national strife, but this week a police officer called time on 28 years of service.

PC David Boggis retired on Monday, and, after admitting he had thoroughly enjoyed his

time with the force, he said he was looking forward to spending time with his family and treading a new path - on the golf course.

PC Boggis, 54, first joined Suffolk police in 1981 and served his first two years at Lowestoft. He was then posted to Southwold to become its frontline officer for seven years.

After spending a year at Halesworth CID, PC Boggis was posted to Beccles for seven years before finally becoming beat officer for the north Lowestoft villages - as community police officer or as part of the Lowestoft North Safer Neighbourhood Team - for the remainder of his time in the rural areas.

After adapting to a lot of change in the role of a frontline officer over the years, PC Boggis recalled how he was posted to different parts of the country for 13 weeks during the 1984 miners' dispute.

'This was one of my most significant postings during

my service, along with being sent to Ipswich during the recent Suffolk murders,' PC Boggis said.

'But during the past seven

years I've built up a really good rapport with the general public and local councillors - parish and district - during service in Somerleyton, Blundeston, Corton, Oulton and Lound.'

PC Boggis said he would miss all the friends that he had made over the years. He added: 'I've thoroughly enjoyed what I've done, and I would like to thank the general public for the support I have received over the years.

'There are a lot of good people out there.'