SOMERSET police volunteers were among a number of people honoured during a special awards ceremony.

October 26 saw the Regional Citizens in Policing (CiP) awards take place in Bristol, recognising the outstanding work and achievements of people who give their free time to policing.

Avon and Somerset Police hosted this year’s event, with Chief Constable Sarah Crew, Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody and Chief Officer for Avon and Somerset Police’s Special Constabulary Andy Bennett, who also acted as master of ceremonies, welcoming nominees from Avon and Somerset Police, British Transport Police, Devon and Cornwall Police, Dorset Police, Gloucestershire Constabulary and Wiltshire Police.

The ceremony celebrated three types of volunteers:

• Special Constables: They work in uniform with police powers, giving at least 16 hours of their time each month.
• Police Support Volunteers: They help in many roles, allowing officers and staff to focus on frontline duties.
• Volunteer Police Cadets: Aged 13 to 17, they learn about policing and show good citizenship through their service.

Somerset volunteers recognised at the Regional Citizens in Policing (CiP) awards, chosen by a regional judging panel, included:

Award: Innovation
Winner: Jay Ralph, Avon and Somerset Police
For transformative Information Technology (IT) work the force said has “redefined how operational data is captured and utilised by Avon and Somerset’s Special Constabulary”.
Jay created a prototype app, which consolidated officer hours, training records, deployments, and performance indicators into a single, accessible dashboard, improving efficiency and empowering supervisors and the Citizens in Policing Team to make more strategic, data-driven decisions.

Award: Police Support Volunteer of the Year
Winner: Ashley Reay, Avon and Somerset Police
The force recognised Ashley’s efforts as the driving force behind the Mendip Community Speed Watch (CSW) Network for nearly 15 years, transforming it into “a vital pillar of road safety across Avon and Somerset”.
“Under his leadership, the number of CSW schemes in Mendip has grown from just six to an impressive 37, supported by more than 100 volunteers,” the citation added.
In the past year alone, their efforts have resulted in over 13,000 educational letters being issued to speeding drivers.

Award: Special Constable of the Year
Winner: Debbie Hather, Avon and Somerset Police
Special Constable Debbie was recognised for efforts since joining Avon and Somerset Police in June 2023, contributing 740 hours of service in one year, while balancing a full-time career and family life.
She also plays a key role in the Women in Policing Special Constabulary group, helping address long-standing issues such as female officer retention.

READ MORE: Crime news from your Somerset Leveller

Chief Constable Crew said: “Our policing volunteers provide essential support to our officers and staff; they help ensure our communities can go about their lives in safety; and they assist us in building stronger, more trusted relationships with the public we serve, so that the fundamental principle of policing with consent is upheld.

“Many citizens in policing juggle demanding personal and professional lives, yet they still make time to serve.

“We want to say thank you to them and let them know their contribution is vital and deeply appreciated whether they’re supporting neighbourhood policing, carrying out arrests, helping vulnerable people, managing public-facing roles or working behind the scenes.”

PCC Moody added: “Serving the public is at the heart of policing. I think this is especially highlighted by the dedication shown by these volunteers.

“We’ve seen their contributions span every aspect of policing, from supporting our officers and engaging with communities, to mentoring the next generation and going above and beyond in service to others.

“They set a high standard for us all and on behalf of everyone whose lives are touched by their work, thank you for everything you do.”