The fifth Merseyside Police Gala Award Evening saw more than 400 police staff and members of the public recognised for their dedication to serving the local community across Merseyside.
Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe, said: "Merseyside Police is here to prevent crime and arrest offenders and help people in emergencies. We have an extraordinary duty.
We employ exceptional people who every day fight crime for the community. The courage, commitment, innovation and professionalism of our people never fail to inspire. It is right that we take the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the superb achievements of those who have done so much to enhance the reputation of Merseyside Police, and make such a difference to the lives of the people they serve."
Detective Sergeant Steve Kelly, who retired from the Force Crime Operations Unit last month, was awarded the Merseyside Police's Employee of the Year. Steve worked tirelessly for a number of years to establish partnership working in Child Protection and Domestic Violence. He was also the Family Liaison Co-ordinator and managed several demanding situations which included the Force response to the Tsunami and the London Bombings.
The Forcewide Team of the Year went to the national award-winning Operation Hawk team on the Wirral, which has been working with the Wirral Drugs and Alcohol Action Team to reduce the supply of Class A drugs, reduce volume crime and have a positive impact on public perception They have also worked on long term solutions by referring offenders into treatment and this has had significant success with 56 per cent of offenders staying in treatment.
The winners of the other awards on the night were as follows:
Contribution to Neighbourhood Policing (a focus on Anti Social Behaviour) - Operation Hatton in Sefton.
The Team Award for Level 2 Crime Contribution - Intelligence and Security Bureau Service Source Management Team.
Merseyside Police's Citizen of the Year 2005 - Dot Johnstone from St Helens.
Michael Roberts from Liverpool South received the Merseyside Police Young Citizen of the Year Award.
The Merseyside Police Authority's Award for Efficiency and Effectiveness went to the Corporate Criminal Justice Performance and Process Management Team
The Special Constable of the Year Award was presented to Special Inspector Christopher Hurst from Sefton.
The following seven people were awarded the Tom Wright Award, for their exceptional commitment and loyalty to Merseyside Police in the face of serious injury or illness:
DC Alison Lancashire (FCOU); Con David Boylan (Liverpool North); Rachel Berkley (Liverpool South); Community Support Officer Jonathan Severs (St Helens); Community Support Officer Frances White (Wirral); Con Peter Barr (Wirral) and Sgt David Holdsworth (Wirral).
There were three new awards this year for Community Volunteer, Diversity and Crime Fighting.
The Community Volunteer Award went to Margaret Jepson the Volunteer Homewatch Co-ordinator for the Sefton area Margaret has dedicated her time to encouraging communities to set up Homewatch Schemes in their local area to help reduce crime and anti social behaviour. As a result there are more than 500 schemes with 12,500 members in the Sefton area.
The Diversity Award was presented to Superintendent Andy Fisher, Inspector Jeanette Wrigley and Dr Vinod Saksena of Sefton. Together they have worked to support the Asian community across Merseyside for the last four years to improve levels of community cohesion. They have organised cultural events which have been attended by hundreds of British and Asian people and have raised money for local and Asian charities. There reputation is recognised both nationally and internationally.
The Crime Fighting Award went to the Liverpool North Neighbourhood Disruption Team which was formed in September 2005 following an upturn in firearms incidents, to carry out disruption tactics. Since the team's creation they have arrested 171 offenders and executed 175 warrants greatly reducing the number of incidents in the area.