WATFORD SPECIAL OFFICERS "HIGHLY COMMENDED" FOR NATIONAL AWARDSPECIAL
Sergeant Richard Jennings and Special Constable Steve Savery were 'highly commended' at the National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA) Special Constabulary and Police Support Volunteer Awards on Thursday (June 16).
They were presented with a certificate from Minister for Immigration Damien Hurst in the Ferrers Trophy Team award category for their licensing work in Watford town centre at Church House in Westminster. In January 2010, Richard formed a team to assist the police Community Safety Unit and Watford Borough Council in dealing with licensing issues. They have been dealing with breaches of regulations and conditions imposed on licensed premises in Watford and Three Rivers as well as offences committed by private hire vehicles in Watford town centre. Special Sergeant Richard Jennings said: "I was very surprised to have been nominated for this prestigious award and feel humbled as it is a great team effort for all the officers who have assisted us with the various operations since we started last year."
"It has been very challenging for the officers that have worked with us but we have all found the operations very interesting, especially the covert parts."Special Chief Officer Peter Mould, who nominated them, said: "They were runners-up to the winner and were in the 'highly commended' category. There were over 140 nominations this year in various categories, so Richard and Steve did very well.
Peter explained: "The Special Licensing Team detected a number of breaches of licensing regulations on virtually every operation and full reports were submitted to Watford Borough Council for appropriate action. In each case, the licence holder was interviewed and a warning and/or advice were given
"In some cases, where breaches re-occurred, a review of the licence was invoked and/or prosecutions were brought. Examples include £1,100 for an off-licence holder who was persistently sold alcohol after hours, the reduction of a club's opening hours from 3am to 12 midnight and the suspension of a pub's licence until a new licensee was installed. Another late night food outlet willingly surrendered their alcohol licence to avoid prosecution. In respect of private hire vehicles, 'sting' operations involving undercover Specials acting as passengers were successful in detecting a significant number of plying for hire offences. In each case, drivers were prosecuted, attracting fines of up to £500, and in some cases vehicles were seized.
"The work undertaken by the Specials Licensing Team has significantly strengthened the enforcement of licensing issues in Watford and has no doubt contributed to the safety of the community
"He added: "This is the 7th time since the inception of the award in 1993 that Hertfordshire has been represented amongst the winners!"
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Edit: Formatting removed, apologies for that!
Edited by Rocket, 27 June 2011 - 12:25 PM.
