Bravery, dedication and commitment recognised at police awards

POLICE officers and staff across Dyfed-Powys were recognised for their bravery, dedication and community spirit at the force’s annual awards ceremony on Friday evening (May 10).

Individuals and teams from the four divisions were presented with awards in 23 categories, ranging from bravery and outstanding achievement, to volunteer and team of the year.

The event was hosted by BBC Radio Wales presenter Eleri Sion at police headquarters in Llangunnor.

Chief Constable Mark Collins said: “It is an honour and a privilege to attend the force awards, and I was delighted to attend the third annual event. Each year, I am blown away by the stories that are told about our committed, inspirational and downright hardworking police officers and staff.

“Each winner and runner-up was nominated by their line manager, a peer, or a member of the public in recognition of the work they have carried out. They have made a difference to someone else’s life, and we are celebrating their successes.

“I would like to thank each nominee and winner for their work over the past 12 months, and congratulate them for their achievements.”

 

Winners and runners-up:

Police Officer of the Year: Temporary DC Matthew Harris

Runners-up: PC Owen Griffiths, HQ; and Temporary DC Chris McGowan, Powys

 Police Staff of the Year: Sue Chambers, major crime support

Runners-up:Licensing officer Nigel Lewis, Pembrokeshire; Gordon Francis, Business Support Unit

Volunteer of the Year: Peter Stych, Goleudy victim and witness support

Runner-up: Quality Assurance Panel

Student of the Year: PC Ciaran Cotter, Ceredigion – He played vital roles in serious incidents where his actions led to the arrest of two suspects in a serious assault, and helped account for all bar one of the 70 guests that were staying at the Belgrave Hotel when a fatal fire broke out.

Runners-up: PC Aimee Dix, Newtown; and PC Emma Robertson, Milford Haven

Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Sgt Ian Price and PC Roger Jones, for their work in implementing Operation SNAP – the response to the increasing submissions of dash-cam or photographic evidence from the public in relation to driving offences.

Runners-up: Traffic Process Unit, Driver re-training scheme

Diversity in Action:Milford Haven Neighbourhood Policing Team – helped make Milford Haven the first Autism friendly community in Wales.

Runner-up: DC Sarah Ross, Brecon

#WeCare Award: PCSO Caryl Griffiths, Ceredigion

 

 

 

 

Runners-up: PC Geraint Skyrme, Brecon; DC Michelle Beeson, Brecon; PC Matthew Richards, Lampeter

 Contribution to Investigation: Temporary DI Steve Merrix and DC Lisa Roberts, South Pembrokeshire CID

 

 

Runners-up: Jo Chalmers; Officers and staff who investigated the murder of Hollie Kerrell

 Team of the Year: Serious and Organised Crime Team, HQ – operations have successfully led to the arrests and charges of 78 individuals involved in the production and supply of class A drugs in the past year.

Runners-up: CCTV Project Team, Ceredigion officers who investigated the fatal fire at Belgrave Hotel, and estates workshop and maintenance team

Unsung Hero: Alastair Revett – ICT officer

Runners-up: Julie Roberts, incident handler and dispatcher; Kelly Walters, Business Support UnitLeadership: DS Dave Steer, Montgomeryshire

Runner-up: Detective Chief Inspector Estelle Hopkin-Davies

Police and Crime Commissioner Partnership Award: All-Wales Urban Search and Rescue Team – for their outstandingefforts in support of the search and investigation phase following the fatal fire at Belgrave Hotel in Aberystwyth.

Runner-up: VC Gallery, Haverfordwest

 Bravery: PCSO Caryl Griffiths and PC Nick Allen

 

 

 

 

 

Runners-up: PCSO Eleri Morgan, Lampeter; PC Pete Williams, Carmarthen

Outstanding Achievement: Sgt Owen Dillon, Brecon Roads Policing Unit

Runner-up: PC Claire Evans, learning and development

 Welsh Learner of the Year: Eddie Donnelly – Traffic Process Unit

Runners-Up: Claire Bryant, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner; and Karen Caulfield, HQ

 Neighbourhood Policing: Piotr Glowczyk, Llanelli – PCSO Glowczyksaw as an opportunity to engage with the Police community in Llanelli, using his Polish roots. He has built relationships with key Polish figures in the town, organised specific beat surgeries, and provides language support between the Polish community and other departments dealing with domestic abuse, registered sex offenders, and most recently assisting in a murder investigation in Lampeter.

Runners-up: PCSO Alexander Mullock, cyber liaison officer at Lampeter Police Station; PCSO Christopher Tipper, Aberystwyth rural.

Problem Solving Award: Temporary Sergeant Matthew Langley – used a problem-oriented policing approach toidentify, disrupt and investigate the thefts of motorised farming equipment from rural communities in Carmarthenshire. His approach led to the arrest and charge of two men.

Code of Ethics Award: Cardigan officers

Special Constabulary Award– Special Sergeant Tomos Parry, Aberystwyth. In three years, he has volunteered 3,346 hours. Tom has assisted at major incidents, assists with the Police Cadet Scheme and has become Ceredigion’s Specials trainer.

Runner-up: Special Constable Thomas Price

Health, Safety and Wellbeing Award: PC Owen Griffiths – a well-respected trainer in the Learning and Development team. He shows a dedicated and caring approach towards students and colleagues alike. He is contributing towards making a stronger and more resilient workforce, equipped to deal with difficult situations.

Runner-up: Carina Giannuzzi, mental health coordinator

Improving standards – doing the basics brilliantly: SSU central submissions team–they play a crucial part in the investigation of crime, performing duties such as ensuring investigating officers’ paperwork is correct; processing paperwork in a timely manner; quality checking exhibits to ensure cases are not compromised; and packaging and submitting exhibits for forensic examination.

Runners-up: Sergeant Gerry Owen, HQ; Temporary Sergeant Sara John, serious collision investigation unit.

Protecting the Most Vulnerable: PCSO Michael Davies, Llandrindod Wells – He has gathered invaluable intelligence to assist with the dismantling of county lines drugs supplies in Llandrindod Wells and helped identify and support vulnerable people within the community who were at risk of cuckooing.

Runners-up: Linda Elias, CSE officer; DC Angela Templeton, Pembroke Dock

Victim Satisfaction and Confidence: DS Zoe Powell, Brecon, and Jane Williams, New Pathways Newtown – worked sensitively and extensively with victims of a non-recent sexual abuse case, which resulted in a man being sentenced to 12 years in prison

Runners-up: DC Emyr Thomas, Aberystwyth; DC Amy Davies, DC Andrew Fawkes-Williams and Nia Evans