A POLICEMAN from Tavistock was last week presented with a medal for his service on an operation set up as part of the global war on terror.

PC Dave 'Jumper' Cross was awarded his 'operational service medal' by his former shipmate, Commander Malcolm Pollock from HMS Drake, for his service on Operation Veritas, which was established after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

PC Cross, a former Royal Navy officer, earned his medal while serving on the Devonport-based frigate HMS Cornwall, on patrol in the Indian Ocean.

He said: 'Looking back it was really a very proud time for us.

'Cornwall sailed for what should have been a relatively short, four-month deployment — however, after the 9/11 attacks we stayed deployed for over eight months.

'Throughout that time Malcolm and I worked very closely, running, amongst other things, all the seamanship evolutions, including the complex and potentially dangerous procedure of re-fuelling at sea.

'Now that we both live in the Tavistock area it is great to meet up and for Malcolm to present my medal.'

PC Cross left the Royal Navy in 2003 after 26 years of service and joined Devon and Cornwall Police — he is a community policeman in Tavistock.

Cdr Pollock said: 'It is tremendous to present Dave with his medal.

'Throughout our time in Cornwall he taught me everything about seamanship, and meeting up again is great.

'It captures the essence of the close knit and team-spirit that runs through the Royal Navy and that sailors look after sailors and when you have tackled hardships with grit and determination you really do form excellent productive teams.'