Winners of the Jane’s Police Review Gala Awards 2007
Community Police Officer of the Year | Student Police Officer of the Year
Community Support Officer of the Year | Diversity in Action Award
Lifetime Achievement Award of the Year
Community Police Officer of the Year
Name and Rank: PC Mohammed Aziz
Force: West Yorkshire Police
Service: Six years
Career Highlights: The leader of the July 7, 2005, London suicide bombers, Mohammed Sidique Khan, came from the Dewsbury area PC Aziz patrols. Since then, according to his force, PC Aziz has been at the forefront of easing Asian community fears of reprisal and also reducing tensions when there were subsequent Terrorism Act 2000 arrests in the area. More recently, when a teaching assistant in Dewsbury refused to remove her veil, and gained national notoriety, it was PC Aziz who liaised between the school and the Asian community to diffuse tensions and ensure there was no disruption to children at the school.
What Others Say: “Mohammed has an abundance of local knowledge and is multi talented. He stands out as being an excellent community officer,” says Julia Hodson, deputy chief constable of the force.
Runners Up:
Second place: PC David Johnson of Lancashire Constabulary
Third place: PC Brian Simpson of Northumbria Police
Highly commended: PC Lorraine Murphy of Cumbria Constabulary and PC Simon Kirkham of South Yorkshire Police.
Student Police Officer of the Year
Name and Rank: PC Kelly Chidgey
Force: Hampshire Constabulary
Service: 21 months
Career Highlights: PC Chidgey has resuscitated people on two separate occasions, enabling the ambulance service to give them first aid on the scene. In one instance, she helped a woman who had suffered an epileptic seizure and stopped breathing. She had to persuade the woman's partner to allow her near the woman to help. She also resuscitated a man who had suffered an asthma attack. In addition she worked on a 'card skimming' investigation which led to her collating more than 500 deception reports.
What Others Say: Her force says: “Since PC Chidgey's appointment she has consistently displayed an exceptionally high standard of professionalism and in a manner far beyond her length of service.”
Runners Up:
Second place: PC Henry Henderson of Leicestershire Constabulary
Third place: PC Russell Hughes of South Yorkshire Police
Highly commended: PC Christopher Buckland of Derbyshire Constabulary
Community Support Officer of the Year
Name: Karen Ballard
Force: West Midlands Police
Service: Three years
Career Highlights: In one neighbourhood, residents’ lives' were being made a misery because of a cannabis factory in a local house and drug dealing in another. There was associated crime and disorder. Karen Ballard gathered information that made searches and arrests possible for her police officer colleagues. She then assisted with scene preservation after the house was raided. When she identified a local youngster who graffiti 'tagged' a wall, she alerted colleagues and detained the boy on foot, he was then arrested. She linked him to an earlier robbery and assault, which he admitted.
What Others Say: A force spokesman says: “Karen shows constant enthusiasm and dedication. She is constantly going that extra mile to improve the quality of life for local residents.”
Runners Up:
Second place: PCSO Andre De Jongh of Suffolk Constabulary
Third place: PCSO Deborah Charman of Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Highly commended: PCSO Robert Johnson of Merseyside Police and PCSO Nicola Burton of Staffordshire Police.
Diversity in Action Award
Name: Diversity and community cohesion unit: Ch Insp Mick Gillick, Sgt Mustafa Mohammed, Insp Shindo Barquer, Aisha Hussain
Force: West Midlands Police
Team Highlights: Whether providing reassurance to young Asians in the aftermath of the London bomb attacks in July 2005 or developing the 'cultural calendar' to ensure the force stays in touch with communities, the unit has worked tirelessly to engage with black and ethic minority populations. The team has set up a 150-strong 'critical friends' network, that provides support for women. It has arranged workshops for female officers and staff to discuss issues such as hijabs for officers and forced marriages.
What Others Say: Gareth Cann, assistant chief constable of the force, says: “The dedication of the team has been unswerving and the recognition that this award would bring to them will reflect not only their success, but the success of the links forged in our community.”
Runners Up:
Second place: Dorset Police’s Divisional Diversity Forum and the Development of Police Link Officers for the Deaf
Third place: South Wales Police’s Forced Marriage/Honour Based Violence Awareness and Victim Protection Programme.
Lifetime Achievement Award of the Year
Name: Graham Sanders
Force: West Midlands Police
Career Highlights: In June Mr Sanders completed 35 years' police service and three years' service as a cadet. During his career, Mr Sanders has received six chief superintendent's awards for outstanding work. His achievements include working on Operation Santrella, the investigation into a murder and attempted murder of a mother and daughter by a French national who fled to France and could not be extradited. He travelled to France to attend the trial, which was five years after the offence, and the appeal two years later. He has not reported sick for 26 years.
What Others Say: Suzette Davenport, an assistant chief constable, says: “Rarely will an officer achieve what Graham Sanders can claim to have achieved throughout his police career.”
Runners Up:
Second place: PC Robert Greenacre of Metropolitan Police
Third place: PC Jan McKay of the Police Service of Northern Ireland