Special Constables and Police Support Volunteers who have made an outstanding contribution to policing will be honoured for their work today (June 17 2009).

Policing Minister, Rt Hon David Hanson MP and Deputy Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle, Deputy Chief Executive of the NPIA will present the awards at the Special Constable and Police Volunteer Awards ceremony in London on 17 June. 

These annual awards, established by the former Minister of State, Earl Ferrers, highlight the valuable contribution that Specials and civilian volunteers make to policing local neighbourhoods and communities every day.

The high visibility frontline presence of Specials backed up by the administrative support of civilian volunteers increases the capacity of police forces, frees up more time for full time officers to focus on frontline duties, helps to deter criminal activity and reassures local communities.

This year's Ferrers Trophy winner, Specials Inspector Kevin McHardy from Cheshire Constabulary, set up a police operation that helped to cut crime and anti-social behaviour in his local area.

Operation ROME involved twenty-five members of the Special Constabulary, regular officers and PCSOs. Licensed premises were searched and documents checked, test purchases of alcohol by trained minors were carried out, hot-spots for anti-social behaviour and underage drinking were covertly targeted and parents were contacted and advised about the dangers of underage drinking.

All this resulted in a dozen arrests, thirteen persons found in possession of drugs, one licensee who failed a test purchase and large quantities of alcohol confiscated. The operation was so successful it is being repeated on a regular basis and is being adapted by other Neighbourhood Policing Units.

Policing Minister, Rt Hon David Hanson MP, said: "Special Constables and volunteer police workers play a crucial role in helping to protect the public and they do this in their own time.
 
"The number of Specials on the beat alongside full time officers will be boosted to 20,000 over the next two years.
 
"The winners of the awards are just a few examples of how dedicated they are to making a real difference to people in our communities. This event underlines just how much we value the difficult and challenging work they do."
 
Deputy Chief Constable Jim Barker-McCardle, Deputy Chief Executive of the NPIA said: "Specials and Police Support Volunteers are a vital part of the police family. They play an important role in reassuring the public and providing a sense of security.
 
"Over 14,000 Special Constables in England and Wales and more than 6,000 Police Support Volunteers now provide a powerful and effective supportive role to the regular officers and they do a truly fantastic job.

"I am pleased to see this high level of dedication and professionalism being recognised and celebrated at these awards."

The judging panel for the 2009 awards was made up of an independent chair and representatives from the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), Association of Special Constabulary Chief Officers (ASCCO) and the Association of Police Authorities (APA).

List of winners:

ACHIEVEMENT IN RECRUITMENT

Winner
VOLUNTEER SUPPORT TEAM
Dorset Police

Highly Commended
BEDFORDSHIRE POLICE RECRUITMENT TEAM
Bedfordshire Police

Highly Commended
Special Sergeant COLIN JOHNSON
Cambridgeshire Police

EMPLOYER SUPPORT AWARD

Winner
Special Constable RAVI CANHYE
Metropolitan Police

POLICE SUPPORT VOLUNTEERS

Winner
COMMUNITY PRACTICALS VOLUNTEER TEAM
Thames Valley Police

Highly Commended
JANET GOULD & ELSIE DIXON
Greater Manchester Police

FERRERS' TROPHY TEAM AWARD

Winner
Special Constables ANTONIA PRINCE & BEN SHEPLEY
South Wales Police

Highly Commended
Acting Section Officer LLOYD SCARSBROOK
Staffordshire Police

Highly Commended
REDCAR & CLEVELAND SPECIAL CONSTABULARY
Cleveland Police

Highly Commended
District Officer ALAN SIMPSON
North Yorkshire Police

Highly Commended
SPECIAL CONSTABLES PERFORMANCE TEAM
Merseyside Police

FERRER'S TROPHY INDIVIDUAL AWARD

Winner
Specials Inspector KEVIN McHARDY
Cheshire Constabulary

Runner Up
District Officer ANDREW HODGSON
Avon & Somerset Constabulary