Police Constable Chris Perry has been named Beat Bobby of the Year 2015.
He won the annual title for his work in Melton, where he has served as a beat officer for the past 10 years.
Judges cited his success and dedication in tackling drug dealing in an area of the town, a spate of burglaries and a particularly bitter neighbourhood dispute among his outstanding successes in the past year.
They also pointed to PC Perry’s work to help a local centre for people with behavioural problems to improve its management as well as his relationship with the community, it’s schools and businesses.
Police Constable Chris Perry joined Leicestershire Police in 2002, he said: “I am very privileged and honoured to have been nominated, never mind winning the actual award.
“I would like to acknowledge the very good team of officers, police community support officers and supervisors I work with at Melton and the community that I serve and who were kind enough to nominate me for this award.
“The most important thing to come from this in my perspective is partnership working and good communication within the community.”
A panel of judges consisting of Chief Constable Simon Cole, Leicester Mercury editor Kevin Booth and Police and Crime Commissioner Sir Clive Loader chose the winner.
Mr Cole said: “I was extremely impressed with the high quality of nominations received for Beat Bobby of the Year the panel had a very difficult choice to make in awarding the winner.
“The commitment each officer shows on a daily basis is impressive and inspiring”.
Mr Booth said: “The Leicester Mercury is once again delighted to support the award, which recognises some of the outstanding community policing going on in our midst on a daily basis.
“It’s often not the stuff that gets shouted from the rooftops, but nonetheless absolutely paramount in preventing crime, solving offences when they do happen, reassuring the public and helping maintain harmony.
“Each nominee fulfilled most, if not all, of those duties to an exceptional level.”
PC Perry will formally receive the title at the Chief Constable’s annual awards ceremony at force headquarters in Enderby in August.
He will receive the Guy Swatland Memorial Shield – which is named in honour of a former officer and title holder who was killed in a road accident – a crystal rose bowl, a signed certificate and a personal cheque for £250 from the chief constable.
PC Geraldine Beech and PC James Thomas are to be highly commended said the judges.
Other members of the judging panel represented the Leicestershire Police Federation and the Police Superintendents’ Association.
