POLICE officers from across the Thames Valley came together to celebrate the very best of community policing.

Chief constable Francis Habgood and his assistant Nikki Ross were among those present at Eynsham Hall hotel for the Community Policing Awards 2018 on Wednesday.

The awards ceremony, which is now in its 17th year, gives Thames Valley Police the opportunity to commend the exceptional efforts of the force’s policing teams.

Winners from Oxford included Henry North, who was named special constable of the year, and community and diversity officer David Hession, who was named diversity champion.

Assistant chief constable Ms Ross chaired the judging panel which had the task of reviewing all the nominations put forward by people throughout Oxfordshire and other areas in the Thames Valley.

She said she was a great opportunity to praise officers – as well as discussing the difficulty of selecting winners.

Ms Ross said: “The Community Policing Awards give residents, community organisations and businesses the opportunity to recognise a member of our force who they think has gone above and beyond the call of duty to make a difference to local people and local communities.

“Again, the response this year from residents was excellent and it was inspiring to see the difference the winners and other nominees are making in their communities to the everyday lives of residents in the Thames Valley.

“Selecting the winners was a difficult but rewarding experience for the panel and I would like to congratulate the winners as well as acknowledge all of the nominees for their hard work and dedication.”

Other winners in Oxfordshire included PC Darren James, covers the Wantage and Grove area and who was named Oxfordshire's 2018 community officer of the year.

Ali Blood, a PCSO in the Abingdon town neighbourhood team, was named Oxfordshire’s community support officer of the year.

The nominations opened in January with members of the public, community groups, police officers and staff able to vote.

Votes were taken for officers, staff and volunteers that people felt had enhanced the service Thames Valley Police offers.

After receiving nearly 400 nominations, the highest number in its history, the nominations were sifted and then reviewed by the judging panel.

Mr Habgood, chief constable of the force, took to social media after the event to express how ‘humbled’ the experience had made him.

He said: “I’m really proud of all the winners at the community policing awards. ‘Dedicated’, ‘passionate’, ‘inspiring’ and ‘humble’ are just some of the words to describe them."