Witney News - Schools officer wins national award

Schools officer wins national award

A Thames Valley Police officer has won a top national award for his work in tackling youth crime in West Oxfordshire.

PC Simon Collins has been awarded the National Justice Award for his work in dealing with underage drinking and anti-social behaviour. PC Collins, who works within the West Oxfordshire Safer Communities Partnership, has successfully developed alcohol education workshops for under 18s who have been caught drinking. He was also heavily involved in producing ‘Too Wasted’, a DVD package for secondary schools which focuses on the consequences of underage drinking.

PC Collins was one of 45 finalists who were selected from over 700 nominations spanning the entire Criminal Justice System.

Bill Oddy, Head of Community Services at West Oxfordshire District Council, who nominated PC Collins, said: “To win this award is a great achievement for Simon, the rest of the Safer Communities Team and all the neighbourhood policing teams in the district. The success of the alcohol education workshops has come from solid partnership working and forms part of our work around the night-time economy.”

The 2008 Justice Awards recognises teams and individuals across the Criminal Justice System who have gone the extra mile to deliver justice. Nominations are put forward by colleagues and the winners were selected by senior Government officials and ministers including the Attorney General, the Secretary of State for Justice and the Home Secretary.

The Attorney General, Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC said: “These awards are about shining a light on the unsung staff and volunteers across the Criminal Justice System who dedicate their lives to solving crimes, helping victims, working with offenders and ensuring this country is a just, safe and fair place to live.

“It is about recognising these people’s selfless determination and showing the public the great work that people in the Criminal Justice System are doing on their behalf.”

The 2008 Justice Awards has 15 categories ranging from work with victims and witnesses through to efforts made to engage with local communities. These are split into individual and team awards.

The winners were announced yesterday (21 October) at a ceremony in London, hosted by broadcaster Kirsty Young.