A Crewe policeman has won the national 'Response Officer of the Year' award, for his work in keeping Cheshire a hostile place for criminals and his investment in to the local community.

In June, as part of Response Officer's Week, The National Police Chiefs' Council launched a national competition to find an officer who truly embodies the role of the response officer. 

In Cheshire, seven of its response officers were nominated for the national award, with Crewe's police constable David Elliott, securing the top prize.

Police constable, David Elliott, with superintendent, Claire Jesson and NPCC lead for Response Officer Week, Rob Cardon (Cheshire Police).

Known affectionately around Crewe Local Policing Unit as "Billy", David was born and raised within a mile of Crewe station and has been a response officer for the entirety of his 18-year career.

David feels most at home when policing the streets of Crewe in his Panda, otherwise known as his "mobile office."

An hour early for duty every single shift, David checks the latest intelligence, wanted persons and crime information to create his own daily list of targets.

David is the most experienced response officer on this team in Crewe and mentors a large number of students and young service officers.

He is seen as a role model across the wider local policing unit, supporting colleagues during violent incidents and working with colleagues to capture key evidence for serious crimes.

In David's individual performance figures for 2023-2024, he has made 161 arrests (68 of which were in relation to domestic abuse), submitted 181 intelligence reports and conducted 76 stop searches.

Sergeant Matthew Stonier, who nominated David, said: "First and foremost, PC Elliott is an experienced, respected and reliable member of the team whose performance across all areas of response policing is unrivalled.

"He is the most experienced member of the team and always accepts tasks without complaint and completes them to a high standard every time, which is a great example to his less experienced colleagues.

David Elliot is the most experienced response officer on this team in Crewe and mentors a large number of students and young service officers (Nub News).

"Throughout the last 12 months, PC Elliott's performance across all aspects of response policing has been truly outstanding.

"Whether it be his near 200 arrests, LPU leading intel submissions, stop searches or detections secured.

"He is widely known for his proactive policing performance but his ability to respond to risk and vulnerability as well as workload management is often underestimated."

All students are given shifts with David at the start of their response journey and through their probation periods to learn "street skills" and develop their overall approach to response.

Superintendent Claire Jesson, lead for Response Officers Week, said: "On behalf of the , I would like to congratulate David Elliot, affectionately known as 'Billy' by us here in Crewe, on being honoured with such a prestigious award.

"He thoroughly deserves this national recognition for all that he does to support and promote Cheshire Police in the best light.

"What made him stand out to the panel is the length of time he has spent on response, while still managing exceptional levels of proactivity with his arrests, stop search and intelligence submissions. 

"The standard of the nominations from Cheshire for the 2024 Response Officer of the Year Awards has been outstanding, with all seven of our nominees having excelled over the past year, and were definitely worthy of winning.

In Cheshire, seven of its response officers were nominated for the national award, with Crewe's police constable David Elliott, securing the top prize (Cheshire Police).

"I personally, and the force as a whole, are extremely proud of our response officers who represent the constabulary with such distinction and make a significant contribution to policing and the communities we serve every day.

"Unfortunately, there can only be one winner, but I do not think we could ask for a better officer to be flying the flag for Cheshire than David."

READ MORE: £2 million improvement plan for council's children's services after 'inadequate' Ofsted report.

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