Football tournament officers score award
ARUNCORN police team has sleuthed its way to being named the best in the county.
The Runcorn Beat Initiative Team (RBIT) triumphed in the ‘team of the year’ category at Cheshire Constabulary’s ACE awards on Friday.
Their successes included rogue trader Dolphus Gaskin, 24, of Tanhouse Lane – who fleeced vulnerable and elderly victims out of £30,000 around the country – as well as a county lines drug suppliers.
The team also had a partial role in the investigation of a unconnected heroin and crack gang that threatened to firebomb a drug debtor’s innocent sister’s house.
Natalie Hodson, 34, of Critchley Road, Speke; Darren Courtney, 21, formerly of Rothesay Close, Runcorn; and Gareth Harrop, 44, of Lyons Lane, Chorley; were jailed for a total of 12 years – Hodson and Courtney for Class drug supply and blackmail conspiracies, and a Harrop for drug supply in his role as driver.
A force spokesman said the detail had excelled in proactive policing and relationship- building skills to combat crimes across the town and across county borders.
The team consists of Detective Constables Chris Gill, Ciara Murphy and Calvin Fletcher and PCs Dawn Taylor and Stuart Beswick.
Receiving the award on behalf of the team at the Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel, Det Sgt Rob McCloughin said: “It’s TWO police community support officers (PCSOs) who united youngsters from around Halton for a football tournament in Widnes have won Cheshire Constabulary’s community engagement award.
PCSOs Paul Barker and Moira McCue received their Achieving Cheshire Excellence (ACE) gong at the annual force ceremony at Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel in Friday.
The duo were the driving force behind bringing the inaugural KickOff@3 football tournament to Halton, when 160 players aged 13 to 16 sought victory on the pitch and the chance to play in a national contest in London.
It was aimed at attracting hard-to-reach teenagers.
A Cheshire police fantastic to win this award and it epitomises the hard work that has been put in by the team all year.
“There’s some other great teams across the constabulary so we’re really honoured to have won this award.
“It’s been a really busy 12 months with some fantastic investigations including rogue traders and county lines so there’s multiple highlights and spokesman said they went above and beyond to secure funding and backing, which had resulted in ‘excellent’ feedback and media coverage in Halton and beyond.
After being presented with the award, PCSO McCue said: “Due to the tournament we have been able to build relationships with the local communities, our partners who assisted on the day, sponsors and also other forces nationally who took part in the tournament finale in London.
“We have hopefully also managed to raise awareness around knife crime, as the main reason of the tournament was to get some of our children who are at risk of becoming involved in crime diverted towards more productive activities. ● lots of great work from the whole team.”
Chief Constable Darren Martland said he was ‘extremely proud’ of the force’s officers, staff and volunteers, while David Keane, Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said the awards celebrated the ‘incredible achievements’ of the constabulary.
They both congratulated all the winners.
“The event was only possible due to the support from our colleagues across the county, who worked extremely hard to pull teams together from some of the hardest to reach communities.
“The icing on the cake was seeing the kids enjoying themselves and the feedback from the local officers who organised the teams was really positive.”
They were congratulated by Chief Constable Darren Martland and Cheshire’s police and crime commissioner David Keane.
CC Martland hailed their ‘fantastic work’ and Commissioner Keane paid tribute to the ‘inspirational stories of bravery, commitment and going the extra mile’ he heard on the night.