Safer Neighbourhoods
SAFER NEIGHBOURHOODS OFFICER AWARDS 2009
The Results!
The Community Police Officer of the Year Award was established as a national event in 1992 by the magazine Jane's Police Review, to draw public attention to the very positive work being carried out by 'Community Police Officers/ Safer Neighbourhoods Officers' – 'bobbies on the beat' who are not attached to high profile units or squads and who rarely make headlines. The award is designed to emphasise that the traditional British bobby who patrols alone, unarmed and on foot, still has an important part to play in an increasingly high-tech and results-driven police service.
Every Police force in England and Wales, as well as the PSNI (Northern Ireland) is invited to submit one nomination of a sworn Police Officer in to the national event for consideration of being named 'The Community Police Officer of the Year' and one nomination of a Police Community Support Officer. This event takes place in London, usually in November, and the award is judged on the basis of personal skills, local initiative to combat crime and the officers working relationships within their communities.
As a precursor to the national event, North Yorkshire runs its own nomination process and presentation evening in order to find "North Yorkshire's Safer Neighbourhoods Officer of the Year".
The following Officers were nominated and had their work celebrated at a presentation evening held at the Cavendish Pavilions, near Bolton Abbey on Friday 26 June. The evening was attended by the Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell and the Chair of the Police Authority Miss Jane Kenyon, as well as the Lord Lieutenant, the High Sheriff and the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire.
Police Officers nominees
- Selby District Police Officer 2009; PC Neil Himsworth
- Harrogate District Police Officer 2009; PC Tim Craven
- City of York Police Officer 2009; T/Sgt Sarah Bestington
- Richmondshire District Police Officer 2009; PC Sean Godfrey
- Craven District Police Officer 2009; PC Jonathan Stubbs
- Scarborough Borough Police Officer 2009; PC Andrew Nicholson
- Hambleton District Police Officer 2009; PC Michelle McFarlane
- Ryedale District Police Officer 2009; PC Jane Jones
Police Community Support Officer nominees
- Selby District Police Community Support Officer 2009; PCSO Alison Marshall
- Harrogate District Police Community Support Officer 2009; PCSO Christopher Coleman
- City of York Police Community Support Officer 2009; PCSO Robert Milliner
- Richmondshire District Police Community Support Officer 2009; PCSO Graeme Gale
- Craven District Police Community Support Officer 2009; PCSO Sally Tomlinson
- Scarborough Borough Police Community Support Officer 2009; PCSO Richard Newcombe
- Hambleton District Police Community Support Officer 2009; PCSO Angela Preston
- Ryedale District Police Community Support Officer 2009; PCSO Tracy Brown
North Yorkshire Awards
North Yorkshire's winning officers were T/Sgt Sarah Bestington from York and PCSO Tracy Brown from Ryedale.
Both will now represent themselves and North Yorkshire Police at the national Gala Evening hosted by Janes Police Review magazine in October in London; joining them will be retired officer Craig Wilson who was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The evening also saw the work of a Special Officer being awarded; DO Alan Simpson has worked for the force (in whichever guise it has been) for the last 40 years and he also received a special national commendation.
York People First were also awarded for the voluntary work that they undertake with the force.
Have a look at the photos from the evening.
