FOUR South Yorkshire bobbies have been nominated for national awards recognising excellence in policing.
The awards are run by Jane's Police Review - a magazine for police officers - and everyone nominated will receive an engraved medal during a ceremony in London later this month.
Policing minister MP David Hanson will announce the winners at the P
ark Lane Hotel.
Inspector Mihajlo Milinkovic, based in Barnsley, has been nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award having served with South Yorkshire Police for 29 years.
His bosses say he has a reputation as a 'committed and thorough police officer' and through his work as a land and search advisor has helped saved the lives of many missing people over the years. He has worked with other police forces, Army and mountain rescue units to ensure he is constantly improving the way the force responds to reports of missing people.
PC Craig White, based in Wentworth, is up for the Community Police Officer of the Year Award. He is a police and young person partnership officer who helped set up a fishing group to give youngsters something to do to keep them out of trouble. He created allotment projects so children not interested in school can learn about healthy heating and growing food.
A force spokesman said: "Craig has a massive impact on young people. He has the ability to change lives."
The Safer Neighbourhood Team in central Barnsley has been nominated for the Diversity in Action Award after work officers undertook following the death of a Polish man in the town. They built links with the Polish community, produced posters in Polish, and worked with churches. When another Polish man was assaulted they had the mechanisms in place to help.
Rachael Graham has been nominated as Community Support Officer of the Year for her contribution to neighbourhood policing in Sheffield. She has visited every shopkeeper and business on her patch, set up a no cold calling zone to protect elderly people, and helped set up a street dance group to keep youngsters out of trouble. She has also worked with a children's home to try to keep vulnerable youngsters out of trouble.
And PC Kelly Hodby, based in Doncaster, has been nominated for the Student Officer of the Year Award for her efforts in dealing with a number of serious sexual incidents, including a rape. In the early days of her career she even protected her tutor when a man launched an "unrelenting attack" on her, and she managed to restrain the attacker until help arrived.
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