This is 'Supercop' – he makes more arrests a year than 58 coppers put together and is officially the best performing bobby in Britain.

Sergeant Ali Livingstone made a massive 524 arrests between April 2008 and March 2009 – the equivalent of 2.2 every working day.

The average rate for officers in England and Wales is just nine a year.

He has managed to notch up more than 1,000 arrests in 18 months and this year he's already slapped his handcuffs on 610 criminals.

Sgt Livingstone, a response officer for Suffolk Police, said the key to his success is "going out on the beat".

The 27-year-old officer, dubbed 'Supercop' and 'arrest machine' by colleagues in Ipswich, said: "The best advice I can give is to get to know the community.

"Talk to people like local authority CCTV operators, store detectives and others.

"All these people are the people who can provide you with help and information. Get to know criminals, even when you are not dealing with them.

"Take the time to go down to custody and talk to people. That can make a big difference, because you never know when your paths might cross again. And do not be afraid to talk to people - we are paid to be suspicious."

Sgt Livingstone, who received a Royal Humane Society award after saving a suicidal man from jumping from a nine-storey car park in dramatic footage caught on CCTV in August 2008, also said "getting in early to work" was a key part of his success.

He said: "I start most shifts an hour or so before I commence duty.

"This gives me a chance to research crimes and outstanding offenders and also get up to speed with what is going on."

He added: "I normally make one or two arrests every day, but on a busy day there will be eight or nine per shift. I do get to the end of the shift sometimes and wonder where the time has gone."

Sgt Livingstone joined the force at 18 and since then he has managed break his fingers, bones in his feet and suffer numerous punches to the face all in the line of duty.

Supercop's identity was revealed after forces were asked for the name, rank, role and station of the officer that made the most arrests between April 2008 and March 2009.

A total of 34 forces named their top cops, with Nottinghamshire Police taking second place, with an officer who wanted to remain anonymous making 393 arrests in a year and Cumbria taking the bronze, where PC Mac Maguire made 250 arrests in 12 months.

Superintendent David Skevington, Ipswich operations manager, said: "Ali's contribution to the policing of Ipswich is tremendous.

"He is a highly dedicated and enthusiastic officer. His arrests are not only for crimes committed but are also for forensic hits, recalls to prison and court warrants."

Matt Gould, chairman of Suffolk Police Federation, said Mr Livingstone "leads from the front".

He said: "I have never known anyone in their service who is more dedicated to the organisation. He lives and breathes the force."