Dorset Police awards ceremony recognises excellence and long service

Twenty-three awards were presented during the Dorset Police annual awards ceremony, which was held at Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne.

Following nominations from colleagues as well as endorsements from partner agencies in the community, the honours were presented by Chief Constable Debbie Simpson, Deputy Chief Constable James Vaughan, High Sheriff Sir Philip Williams, Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner Colin Pipe, former chair of the lay custody visitors Kathleen Emery, Christopher Gastaldo from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and previous Dorset Chief Constables Martin Baker, Jane Stichbury and Dirk Aldous.

The winner of the Dorset Criminal Justice Board (DCJB) award was presented to the Dorset Live Link Team, a multi-agency team consisting of members from Dorset Police, the Wessex Crown Prosecution Service, Her Majesty’s Courts Services, and the Citizens Advice Witness Service, who work closely together to improve facilities for vulnerable witnesses.

Chair of the DCJB Deputy Chief Constable James Vaughan said: “The team put in a considerable amount of preparation to develop a facility known as the Dorset Remote Live Link (DRLL), which allows victims of domestic abuse, children and other vulnerable individuals who are likely to be too intimidated to attend court, to be able to give evidence via a live link at a site away from the court-house, with no risk of coming face-to-face with defendants.

“The DRLL was first used in February 2016 and by December it had been booked in 43 trials for 55 witnesses. This award is truly well deserved as the facility exemplifies true partnership working and ensures vulnerable witnesses are much better supported through the criminal justice system.”

Constable Sophie Williams from the Bournemouth East Safer Neighbourhood team received the Public Confidence Award, and the Hambleton Award, which recognises the uniformed police officer of the year was awarded to Weymouth Constable Stephen Newton.

The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Superintendent Charlie Eggar, who is entering the last months of his career in the police service. The Special Lifetime Achievement Award was awarded to the former Chief Fire Officer of Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, Darran Gunter, who has been an invaluable partner to Dorset Police, working to forge a lasting relationship between the two emergency services.

Volunteers were also acknowledged for their dedication to policing. The six members of the Ferndown Police Community Office team received the Volunteer Team of Year award; Peter Jones, the Chair of Weymouth and Portland Neighbourhood Watch was awarded Watch Group of the Year; Volunteer of the Year was presented to Ted Bain, and Special Constable of the Year was awarded to Weymouth Special Inspector Emma West.

Chief Constable Debbie Simpson said: “The Force awards are a valuable opportunity to recognise the hard work, professionalism and selflessness that our volunteers, officers and staff contribute to Dorset Police.

“All individuals are to be commended for their contribution to supporting and developing policing, and ultimately working to keep Dorset safe.”

Below is a full list of the awards presented and the winners:

The Community Engagement Award: Poole West NPT and Poole North NPT

The Public Confidence Award: Constable Sophie Williams, Bournemouth East Safer Neighbourhood team

The Kathleen Emery Shield for the Custody Officer of the Year: Sergeant Philip Lee

The Dirk Aldous Detective of the Year: Detective Constable Richard Evans

The Diversity in Action Award: Counter Services Team

The Environmental Award: Bournemouth East PCSO Jayne Wilson

The Hambleton Award: Weymouth Constable Stephen Newton

The Leadership Award: Weymouth Sergeant Jane Moore

The Lifetime Achievements Award: Superintendent Charlie Eggar

The High Sheriff’s Tankard to the PCSO of the Year: Bournemouth North PCSO Kim Sayles

The Victims Champion Award: Road Policing Family Liaison Officer Team

The Special Constable of the Year Award: Weymouth Special Inspector Emma West

The Jane Stichbury Police Staff of the Year: Adam Carter, Investigations Officer, based in Bournemouth’s Volume Crime Team.

The Michael Stannard Community Officer of the Year: Bournemouth South Constable Euan Douglas

The Neighbourhood Watch Group of the Year Award: Weymouth & Portland Neighbourhood Watch Group, Chair Peter Jones

The Volunteer of the Year Award: Ted Bain

The Volunteer Team of the Year Award: Ferndown Community Office

The Reducing Crime Award: East Bournemouth NPT

The Crime Reduction Partnership Award: Boscombe Regeneration Project Team

The Jane Stichbury Student Officer of the Year: North Dorset Constable Natalie Skinner

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commendation: Crime Scene Investigator Sarah Pascoe, Detective Inspector Mark Samuel, Chief Inspector Ben Hargreaves, Detective Superintendent Jez Noyce, Detective Constable Ken Todd and Ex-Detective Chief Inspector Martin Holloway

Criminal Justice Award: The Dorset Remote Live Link Team

Special Lifetime Achievement Award: Darran Gunter