THE best policemen and women from across North Somerset will go head to head with colleagues from rival forces next month in a bid to win a prestigious award.

More than 850 recommendations for the Community Policing Awards were received from members of the public and staff across all six police districts in the Avon and Somerset Constabulary force area.

After careful deliberation by police bosses these were whittled down to 36 district winners from across North Somerset, Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, West Somerset, and Somerset East.

There are six nominees from across North Somerset from areas including Nailsea, Yatton and Cleeve.

But the suspense continues, as the successful individuals and teams now have to wait until March 8 before finding out the overall winners of each category at a special awards ceremony.

The winners will be revealed at a grand gala dinner streamed live across the internet, so colleagues, friends and family can watch events unfold

Members of the public put forward police officers, staff and volunteers who they feel have gone the extra mile to reduce crime and improve the quality of life for residents.

Chairman of Avon and Somerset Police Authority, Dr Peter Heffer, said: “This year’s judges have had a really tough job deciding the winners.

“Honouring and recognising the good work undertaken by neighbourhood policing teams across Avon and Somerset is extremely important.

“The nominations highlight the impact both individuals and teams are having on the communities they serve.”

People could nominate their neighbourhood beat manager, PCSO, special constable and neighbourhood team of the year as well as the outstanding customer service award.

This year also saw the launch of a new category, the public recognition award. It acknowledges the vital work of response officers who are dedicated to keeping people safe and fighting crime around the clock.

The North Somerset winners/nominees for overall awards are:

n PCSO of the Year Award: Kate Turner – covers Cleeve, Yatton and Nailsea.

Ms Turner was nominated by residents from the patch she covers.

One resident said: “She is a great support to our community. Her most recent support has been helping with the road closure in Yatton by making sure everyone and everything is running safely.

“She truly deserves to win this award because she is a fantastic person.”

n Response Award: Steven Faulkner – based at Nailsea and covers North Somerset.

Nominated by a solicitor who said: “I feel compelled to put pen to paper after having met PC Faulkner at both Nailsea and Weston police stations.

“He arrested four people for an allegation of theft from an employee and I was asked to assist the defendants initially in my role as a lawyer.

“We are all so quick to criticise the way that the police behave, and how they accuse many people of being guilty before they have investigated a crime. However, this officer was a credit to the force from start to finish.

“He clearly is a professional officer. However, he showed a softer side, a sense of humour, and he is an all-round quality officer – and that is not just the opinion of myself, it is the opinion of those that he arrested.”

n Outstanding Customer Service Award: Raymond Bradley – based at Nailsea and covers Blagdon, Churchill, Burrington and Butcombe.

PC Bradley (pictured) was nominated by Burrington parish councillor Roger Daniels.

Roger said: “PC Bradley is particularly well respected and appreciated in this area for his long service to the community, his practical and sympathetic approach to policing matters and his engagement in the local community, which includes helpful reports to the parish councils and regular attendance at parish council meetings.”