Police rewarded for going above and beyond...

POLICE officers who go above and beyond the call of duty saw their efforts rewarded with special prizes.

Oldham’s Chief Supt Tim Forber and Mayor of Oldham, Councillor David Jones, presented staff with their awards at the civic centre.

Prize winners included PCSO Jane Smith, from the Chadderton Neighbourhood Policing Team, who scooped the Citizen Focus Award for her efforts to establish Chadderton Youth Neighbourhood Watch.

PCSO Sue Hoyle, from the Royton and Shaw Neighbourhood Policing Team, won the Diversity Award for her efforts to halt a spike in burglaries in the area.

PCSO Hoyle also set up youth surgeries in youth clubs and schools to allow the younger generation to voice their concerns resulting in a drop in antisocial behaviour in Royton North.

The Special Constable of the Year Award went to Adam Potts who works in the Royton, Shaw and Crompton area. He was praised for his dedication to community work.

Other winners included DC Mark Tiffany for his work with the Child Abuse Investigation Team, DS Lindsey Curry, who has helped increase the division’s detection rate for domestic abuse by 12 per cent in the last year, and DS Liz Hopkinson for her commitment to helping vulnerable victims in the Sexual Offences Unit. The Challenge and Support Team, which was set up to tackle anti-social behaviour and youth offending, won the Team Award.

Chief Supt Forber said: “There are a lot of dedicated staff and officers carrying out some excellent work in Oldham.

“I would like to congratulate all of the finalists and thank them for their contribution and dedication in the service they provide to all our communities.”

Members of the community were also praised for their efforts to work with policing teams to drive down crime.

These were Nicola Brogen, head teacher of Westwood Primary School; Janet Potter, from the council’s licensing department; Lee Marsland, project director of Streetlink in Failsworth; Kate Roberts, First Choice Homes housing officer for Shaw; Vicky Carr and Leslie Edwards, from The Radclyffe Outreach Centre in Chadderton; and Joely Leach-Ravey, senior learning mentor at Saddleworth School.