PCSOs shortlisted for national award

Message from Humberside Police:

Here at Humberside Police, our PCSOs are an integral and vital part of our policing family. Initially created to support police officers with community engagement and reassurance, the PCSO role has now become the bedrock of Neighbourhood Policing.

And their achievements are now being celebrated and recognised at a higher level, with the first national PCSO conference and awards ceremony taking place later today – Thursday 12 January 2023.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to nominate a PCSO colleague from Humberside Police. Over 300 nominations were submitted in total, covering almost every police force in England and Wales.

So we are very proud that two of our colleagues have been shortlisted for an award:

PCSO Jacqui Fairbanks

Shortlisted for Innovation

For the last 16 years, Jacqui Fairbanks has dedicated her work to the sex workers in Hull. She has built strong and secure relationships with this notoriously hard to reach community, to the point where she has been instrumental in ensuring convictions in investigations into attacks on sex workers.

Jacqui is extremely proactive in sharing good practice, and shares her extensive knowledge with our own officers, partner agencies, and officers from other forces across the country.

She has also designed an innovative operation designed to protect the sex worker community, which includes educating users of sex workers. 

Her passion and commitment to supporting this vulnerable community is inspiring. She has an in-depth knowledge, understanding, enthusiasm and dedication to providing sex workers with the support they need. By raising awareness of the risks to sex workers, and safeguarding and protecting them from harm, Jacqui is a proven true advocate of the sex worker community and a credit to Humberside Police. 

PCSO Kerry-Anne Leaning

Shortlisted for Problem Solving

Kerry has worked within Grimsby Town centre for a number of years and is dedicated to supporting and addressing local issues. She has crafted robust and trusted relationships with all key partners based within the town centre and works hard to promote and improve the area.

Recently, Kerry identified emerging issues regarding ASB and shop theft close to the Freshney Place Shopping Centre. In consultation with key partners and the ASB Team, Kerry designed a Problem Orientated Policing Plan to address the problems.

Kerry quickly identified patterns around the locations and timings of the incidents, and by using her relationships with business owners was able to suggest and rapidly implement some quick solutions.  

These actions had remarkable results- reports of ASB dropped to 0, and thefts from one particularly highly targeted store have dropped by 60%.

The fantastic results are down to Kerry’s investment of time, and the pride she takes in her work around the town centre.  She has successfully driven down offending and has empowered those working there to feel safe and confident in their workplace. She has an unparallel positive impact on and with the community she works.   

The conference will take place this afternoon, followed by a silver service meal and the award ceremony. It will take place at the Unison Centre in London, and is being supported by UNISON, NPCC Neighbourhood Policing, NPCC PCSO leads and the College of Policing.