13 November 2008

Student Officer of the Year 2008

The Student Officer of the Year Award was introduced to the Jane’s Police Review Gala Awards in 2002. Nominees are judged on their personal skills, their interaction with the public and practical policing skills including crime investigating, making an arrest and dealing with incidents.

Winner: PC Kevin Hailes

Force: Hertfordshire Police

Career Highlights: PC Kevin Hailes, known as a 'dynamo' by his supervisor, discovered a seriously injured woman who was too scared to give him any information about her attacker. She did not want to make any allegations and it did not look likely she would go to court. However, the Watford officer's personable and logical manner put her at ease, and having won her trust, PC Hailes gave an excellent description of the offender over the radio. As a result, the man was arrested and pleaded guilty to the assault.

PC Hailes has an impressive arrest record and is an good communicator, according to his force.

What others say: Sgt Dan Stoddart, PC Hailes's supervisor, says: '[PC Hailes] is a peerless team worker and I glow with pride when I hear him offer to help others with their work. He is usually the last to leave the building after a shift and does not leave issues unresolved.'

Runner-Up - PC Elizabeth Purnell, Gloucestershire Constabulary

3rd Place - PC Gemma Kirby, Avon and Somerset Police

Photos (Click for high resolution version)

PC Kevin Hailes

PC Elizabeth Purnell

PC Gemma Kirby