POLICE and Crime Commissioner Donna Jones has acknowledged the value of volunteering for community safety.
In her second term, the former magistrate of 16 years, highlighted Special Sergeant Lewis James, who logged 1,000 hours last year with Southampton's Bargate Neighbourhood Policing Team and won Special Constable of the Year at the Commissioner's awards.
The Community Speedwatch Chandler’s Ford group also garnered recognition taking home the Police Volunteer of the Year award.
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Others recognised include volunteers involved in rural policing, young people's advisory groups and Humane Animal Dispatchers, showcasing the diverse range of volunteer roles in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight's police force.
Mrs Jones said: "Since becoming PCC in 2021, I’ve witnessed the wonderful contributions volunteers make to our policing communities across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. From Community Speedwatch co-ordinators who help officers clamp down on dangerous drivers to Special Constables who join their regular colleagues on the frontline, volunteers provide immense value and support."
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