Brave police office who chased a suspect armed with a large knife among those praised at awards

PC Ricky Meyers was presented with a bravery award after his actions, preventing further harm and “reassuring a community already anxious about rising knife incidents”.

He was one of a number of people praised for their “selfless dedication and commitment” by Hampshire and Isle of Wight’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Donna Jones at the fifth annual Awards ceremony which recognises and celebrates those volunteers, partners, community groups, police officers and staff who consistently go above and beyond to improve the lives of others.

Over 350 people made their way down the red carpet for the glitzy event which took place at the Hilton Southampton Utilita Bowl on Friday, March 13.

The PCC was joined by a number of guest presenters to hand out the awards including Assistant Chief Constable Tara McGovern, Deputy Chair of the Force Strategic IAG Lisa Sigiura, Deputy Lieutenant Amelia Riviere, Cllr Simon Minas-Bound, Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner Alex Rennie and Chief Finance Officer Richard Croucher.

Other local winners from the Portsmouth area were PC Anna Jordan who won the Police Recruit of the Year award; Lord Mayor Cadet for Portsmouth North Jack Tingle who won the Youth Volunteer of the Year Award; and Lorraine Lambert who won the Commissioner’s Special Recognition Award for developing a programme with The King’s Trust for the Youth Justice Service.

PCC Donna Jones said: “I am always proud and humbled to hear how so many people are making such a difference in their communities.

“These individuals are the ones who show up and go the extra mile, often without expecting any recognition at all.

“Day in, day out and often in really tough situations, they protect the vulnerable and stand up for what is right.

“But we must not forget the teams around them. I’m sure many of our winners would agree that they couldn’t do their vital work without the support of their colleagues.

“Thank you to every winner and nominee. What you do matters. It’s appreciated not just by me but by your colleagues, your leaders, and most importantly, by the people you serve.”

The winners

Local Bobby of the Year – PC Joseph Chung: PC Chung has transformed community confidence in Totton through their exceptional dedication as Totton’s Local Bobby. He consistently goes above and beyond to build trust, professionalism, and genuine connection with his community.

Police Staff of the Year – Dan Godel: Dan has helped the public get faster responses to their 101 calls by creating simple digital tools that speed up how quickly people are answered. His hard work and ideas have made the service quicker and easier for everyone who needs police support.

Business Crime Prevention Award – PS Mike Kesslar-Lyne and the Southampton Shoplifting Prevention Team: This team has delivered a stronger response to shoplifting. Their efforts have led to multiple charges, prison sentences, and Criminal Behaviour Orders, making Southampton safer for retailers and the public.

Commissioned Service Volunteer of the Year – Scott Roberts: Scott has supported survivors at Yellow Door for over three years, offering compassionate one-to-one therapy, helping people rebuild confidence and resilience. His support is described as life changing.

Police Animal of the Year – PD Major: Major is one of the UK’s first police dogs trained to find the three most common spiking and sexual stupefaction drugs. He has already successfully found these drugs for his handler, PC Kelly Bartle on patrol. PD Major suffered a broken leg last year whilst exercising off duty. It was initially thought that his injury would be career ending! However, he showed real bravery and perseverance, and his leg healed and the injury has not affected his performance.

Rural Crime Fighter of the Year – PS Michael Cork: PS Cork has transformed rural policing by redesigning the Rural Crime Taskforce and leading major operations. His leadership has driven a 27% reduction in rural crime in six months and inspired a high performing team.

Police Recruit of the Year - PC Anna Jordan: PC Jordan has shown exceptional professionalism and maturity throughout training and deployment, quickly reaching independent patrol while also meeting the demands of academic study. She consistently delivers high quality work, manages complex tasks with confidence, and embodies the values expected of an outstanding officer.

Safer Roads Award – Four Marks Community Speedwatch: This team has improved local road safety by monitoring speeds and helping over 12,300 educational letters reach drivers who exceeded limits.

Serious Violence Prevention Award – Hart & Rushmoor Priority Crime Team: This team has made the district safer by leading high risk operations that recovered drugs, weapons and cash, disrupted county lines networks and protected vulnerable people from exploitation.

Police Volunteer of the Year – Mounted Rural Patrol: These volunteers make rural areas safer by sharing intelligence and helping prevent crime. With 876 patrols and over 1,200 volunteer hours this year, their presence has boosted community confidence and provided vital support in protecting the countryside.

Special Constable of the Year – Gemma Dale: Gemma has strengthened policing in the New Forest through fair and compassionate leadership, guiding her team through difficult challenges while always putting public service first.

Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Award – Amy Andrew: Amy has made a real difference in Fawley by supporting young people late at night and in remote areas, reducing antisocial behaviour through patient engagement, clear guidance and consistent care.

Working in Partnership Award – PC Michelle Harris & PS Edward Hurst: PC Michelle Harris and PS Ed Hurst have transformed policing within HMP Winchester. Their presence has turned previously stalled or unsupported enquiries into solved crimes, resulting in stronger cases and longer sentences for serious offenders.

Student Officer of the Year – PC Jack Moran: Jack has consistently stood out for his professionalism, reliability and attitude. Every department he’s worked with has praised his performance. Jack’s enthusiasm, work ethic and rapid development have made him a confident, capable officer who sets a strong example for others.

Supporting Victims of Crime Award – PC Adam Foxwell: Adam has been excellent at supporting vulnerable victims at every stage of his career. Victims of domestic abuse have written personally to praise his empathy and patience, and he is equally skilled at supporting children and teenagers through sensitive and frightening situations.

Youth Volunteer of the Year – Jack Tingle: Jack joined as a cadet in May 2023, Jack was nominated for the role as Lord Mayor Cadet for Portsmouth North, and he held this until May 2024. Jack was promoted to team leader as he has shown he has leadership qualities. In October 2024, Jack was promoted from team leader to Deputy Head Cadet.

Independent Custody Visitor of the Year – Mark Judd: Mark has supported custody visiting since 2020 with reliability, professionalism and a consistently positive attitude, becoming a valued and respected member of the team. As Deputy Panel Coordinator, he’s always willing to help and remains a real asset to the service.

Youth Engagement Award in memory of James Bowman – Matt Manning: Matt has transformed youth engagement in the Fawley area by creating a safe space where young people build skills and positive relationships through board gaming.

Community Volunteer of the Year Award – Mike Collen: Mike has supported residents across the community for many years and has deepened his commitment since retiring just over a year ago. He dedicates his time to fundraising exceptional funds for local people, running the community store, and helping many in need. He leads the local team that delivers Chapter 8 road closures for Fleet Carnival, Remembrance Day, the half marathon, the Fleet 10k, and numerous other community events. A regular Santa and a constant source of support for both young and old, he is always out in the community, always giving, and always making a difference.

Bravery Award – PC Ricky Meyers: Ricky swiftly pursued and apprehended a suspect armed with a large knife, preventing further harm and reassuring a community already anxious about rising knife incidents. His quick actions and courage made a meaningful impact on public safety and confidence.

Commissioner’s Special Recognition Award – Lorraine Lambert: Lorraine has a remarkable gift for helping young people rediscover their confidence and believe in what they can achieve. She lifts them up, turns ‘I can’t’ into ‘I can’, and supports them into work, new opportunities, and challenges they never thought they could face. Lorraine’s work developing a programme with The King’s Trust for the Youth Justice Service has given many a real opportunity to change direction.

Commissioner’s Congratulations Award - Hayden Phillips: Hayden has been an exceptional young leader of one of our scrutiny groups, guiding it with maturity, strategic insight and remarkable commitment. He has continually sought opportunities for young voices to shape policing. He has helped inspire new members, encouraged peers to join the Youth Commission, and ensured the YIAG’s achievements reached young people across both counties. Now retiring from the Youth IAG, he will become the first Youth IAG member ever to join Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary as a police officer.

You can watch the awards show on the OPCC Facebook page.