Hertfordshire Constabulary has honoured exceptional bravery, dedication and service at its Chief Constable's Annual Awards, held on Wednesday evening (19 November).

Police officers, staff and volunteers from across the county gathered alongside Chief Constable Andy Prophet, Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards and local dignitaries – including the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire Robert Voss and High Sheriff Nicholas Buxton – to recognise some of the most impressive policing achievements of the past year.

Chief Constable Prophet said the evening was an important moment to "pause, reflect and congratulate those who go above and beyond to catch criminals and keep people safe", adding that policing is "a job like no other" and that staff "face complex challenges and distressing incidents every day".

Since January, Hertfordshire officers and staff have delivered nearly 30,000 hours of hotspot patrols, made more than 10,500 arrests, examined 2,600 crime scenes, seized close to 2,000 weapons and answered more than 350,000 calls to 999 and 101.

PCC Jonathan Ash-Edwards praised the "quiet professionalism, compassion and split-second bravery" shown by the force. "To those who received awards: you represent the very best of policing," he said.

Highlights from this year's winners

A huge range of achievements were celebrated across the evening:

• Cadet of the Year: Issack Aly from the Watford Cadet Unit, recognised for his leadership and commitment.
• Volunteer of the Year: Hertsmere Police Cadets volunteer Sue Blackley, praised for her energy, reliability and support for young people.
• Police Staff Award for Operational Excellence: Hatfield-based Intelligence Development Officer Hannah Farrow, for outstanding work supporting undercover operations and County Lines investigations.
• Health and Wellbeing Award: PCs Jessica Amos and Clare Hawkins, recognised for championing wellbeing across the force.
• Response Officer of the Year: PC Connor Phipps from Hertsmere, praised for professionalism and exceptional arrest results.
• Leadership Excellence Award: Sergeant Karen Mellor, honoured for community safety work in Stevenage and national contributions to knife-crime prevention.
• PCSO of the Year: Supervisor PCSO Steven Shaw for more than 20 years of outstanding community policing in Watford.
• Investigator of the Year: DC Ellie Cowling, recognised for meticulous and compassionate work on a complex national sexual offences case.
• Student Officer of the Year: North Herts response officer PC Izabela Nowosinska, praised for professionalism and dedication since joining in 2023.
• Tutor of the Year: PC Tom Eaton from the Workforce Development Unit for exceptional support to new recruits.
• Police Staff Award for Outstanding Support: Daphne Panayi, commended for consistently high-quality work and calm leadership.
• Neighbourhood Policing Officer of the Year: T/Chief Inspector Mark Collins, recognised for delivering major community safety improvements in East Herts.
• Special Constabulary Officer of the Year: Special Inspector Carl Powell, celebrated for revitalising the Stevenage Specials team.
• Excellence in Fighting Crime Award: PC Kate Mawer from DAISU, for her leading work securing Domestic Violence and Stalking Protection Orders.
• Team of the Year: The Child Online Safeguarding Team (COST), praised for tireless and emotionally demanding work tackling online child abuse.
• Chief Constable's Award: The Operational Learning Team based at Gosling, for delivering high-quality training to new officers amid record recruitment.

Chief Constable Prophet said the achievements represented only "a snapshot" of the work carried out every day to keep Hertfordshire safe.

Thinking of a policing career?

Hertfordshire Constabulary is currently recruiting. More information is available on the force's Careers page.