Police officers rewarded for work beyond call of duty

POLICE officers from across the region who have gone above and beyond the call of duty were recognised in the Queen's birthday honours list yesterday.

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Two Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) and a recently-retired constable were awarded MBEs, while two more serving officers were given a Queen's Police Medal.

In 1998 Peter Hartshorne, who has recently left South Yorkshire Policeafter a 29-year-career, volunteered to become the community police officer for Hexthorpe in Doncaster, which is in the top 10 per cent most deprived council wards.

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He regularly ran discos for children,was an active member of community groups and also helped to set up an award-winning allotment project at a local primary school. Up to three quarters of the work he carried out was in his own time.

South Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable Bob Dyson said: "The award of MBE is well deserved recognition of the over and above commitment Peter Hartshorne showed throughout his many years as the community officer for Hexthorpe. It is a fitting tribute that coincides with his retirement."

A PCSO who dreamed of being a police officer but didn't realise her ambition until she was in her 40s has also been awarded the MBE, for services to Humberside Police.

Liz Smith was a special constable in West Yorkshire but had to leave because she was "too old" at 55. Undeterred, she became a PCSO in Bridlington four years ago, and now aged 61, has no intention of retiring. "A lot of elderly people have had criminal damage and I will follow it up with crime reports, then put them on the list and whenever I walk past I just knock on the door and they know they have someone to turn to."

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Another MBE has gone to a former police inspector who now works as a PCSO in Frizinghall, Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Sam Sagar began his policing career in Batley but spent the vast majority of it serving in Bradford, before retiring in 2002.

He returned to policing as a PCSO in June 2003 and has been based in Frizinghall ever since.

Mr Sagar said: "I didn't expect it and it has very much come out of the blue."

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West Yorkshire Deputy Chief Constable David Crompton has been awarded the Queen's Police Medal. Sergeant John McFadzean, who works in Huddersfield, has also received the Queen's Police Medal.

A further MBE was awarded to Diane Lofthouse, 47, from Harrogate, for services to the prevention of disability hate crime.

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