IT was celebration time for West Midlands Police’s kind-hearted volunteers as several of them scooped top prizes at the Lord Ferrers Awards.
The awards recognise outstanding contributions made by special constables, police support and cadets volunteers and others who give their time to support policing.
Special Chief Insp Anne Russell was the winner of the inaugural Longevity Award, which recognised her 36 years of service.
Anne has volunteered for an average of 700 hours per year throughout her time in the role.
She said she is as motivated now as she was when she first joined in 1987.
Special Insp Hitesh Mehta and banking firm HSBC, which supports its staff by allowing them the flexibility to volunteer as a Special Constable, were winners in the Employer Supported Policing award.
The OPCC Custody Scrutiny Panel, a group of volunteers who scrutinise West Midlands Police’s use of strip search and force powers within custody to assess whether or not they think the use was fair and proportionate, were runners-up for the OPCC Award.
And volunteer cadet leader Raj McGarry was nominated for the Police Support Volunteer Individual award, finishing as runner-up, for changing the lives of young people and making the community a better place to live.
The head of Citizens In Policing, Sam Booth, said: “Across the force, we are lucky enough to have volunteers supporting us who are crucial members of some of our busiest teams and departments and the work we do.
“I am incredibly proud of each one of them and proud of the work they carry out.
“Awards like these are just one way we can show how much we appreciate everything they do.”
West Midlands Police is currently on the lookout for new special constables to volunteer.
Visit wmp.referrals.selectminds.com/jobs/special-constable-2243 for more information on how to volunteer.
