27 years and 155 days – the total time PC Geoff Moore has been a bobby on the beat.

Joining the Met in 1987, Geoff served in London until 1992 when he left to move back up North.

So when Durham was recruiting in 2000, he knew he had to join.

The Frosterley resident was one of the original members of Crook Beat Team when it was newly formed in 2003 – a beat he loves and continues to love despite officially retiring last Thursday (September 15).

Recounting his time in the patch, he said he’d got up to all sorts he could never have predicted in his role and had always been learning.

“Every day is a school day for me because you are always learning in this job,” he said. “Policing the Dales is like nothing else and you need to know everything from how to catch criminals travelling through to things like solving bat problems and the annual country shows.

“I once got stuck in a caravan after responding to reports for concerns for a man’s welfare and the only way we could get in was through a little window – thankfully I managed to get out in the end and the guy was ok,” he remembers. “Turns out he had just gone working down South for a while so no one had seen him but it was definitely the most memorable welfare visit I’ve ever done.”

Geoff and his wife Jac, a teacher, have retired at the same time and are both looking forward to doing more of their hobbies which, for Geoff, involves time with the Frosterley Fishing Club, on his motorbike and down the allotment.

“I will miss the people the most as they really make the job and the nice customers,” he said. “It costs nothing to listen and that’s what I’ve always tried to do in this role but I know it’ll continue in good hands.

“It feels like the end of an era.”

Geoff and his colleagues at Crook Station were joined by Assistance Chief Constable, Tonya Antonis, during his final shift last month as they said their goodbyes.

Inspector Ed Turner, who has know Geoff for 22 years, said: “This really is an end of an era. PC Moore has been the epitome of your local beat bobby – living and working on his own beat.

“His passion, enthusiasm and determination to help anyone and make his beat a better place is impressive and he will be a huge loss to Durham Constabulary and the communities who he has served across Weardale and Crook for so long.

“We wish him all the best in his thoroughly-deserved retirement.”