BBC Radio 4's Today programme broadcast a five minute feature this morning on how the death of PC Andy Hocking had affected the community and how his style of policing could be compared to the rest of the country.

The moving feature looked at what made 6,000 people line the streets of Falmouth to pay respects to the popular policeman, who died suddenly at the age of 52, and what made this ordinary neighbourhood police officer so special to so many people.

The programme interviewer spoke to Andy's wife Sally who told her that people liked to see a familiar face - "They treated him like a friend, and he treated them like friends," she said.

It contrasts the trust that people had in Andy with the level of trust throughout the rest of the country where around 60% of the population say they trust the police.

In her first broadcast interview since his death, Mrs Hocking told the BBC how: "he had the right ingredients for the job - he was very fair with people, he was very engaging, he was interested and he would always listen - but he was also an interesting character himself".

PC Matt Cummins, a close friend of Andys, told the programme that, in Falmouth at least, people like PC Hocking have the power to change negative perceptions of the police.

He said: "Half the battle is getting that connection with people. Andy knew everybody, whether it was from his policing role, or through what he got up to before, and that proved massively helpful.

"If we had a meeting in the town centre then we couldn't get through town quickly because everybody would want to stop to talk to him."

Also interviewed for the programme was BID manager Richard Wilcox, who helped organise the event along with Matt Barnicoat who came up with idea.

He told the programme: "We were expecting around 2,000 people to show up and walk the beat that he did," he said.

"In the end over 6,000 people took part. It didn't surprise any of us who worked with him. Even the tourists knew him."

The final word goes to Jacqui Owen, who got to know Andy Hocking at the gates of her children's primary school.

"Andy was one of those people you always felt better for seeing, whether you were just going past him and giving him a wave, or stopping for a chat - he always left you going away with a smile on your face," she said.

"It's a real loss. It's still very hard to come into town because you expect to see him and now… you don't."

The full feature can be found by copying the link below into your browser.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02pq8k0