THE achievements of police officers and staff were celebrated when North Yorkshire police held their third annual awards ceremony.

The awards, held at Sandburn Hall, York, celebrate those who "embody the force’s values of courage, compassion and inspiration."

Among the winners was Northallerton's Sergeant Simon Wilson who was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for a Police Officer.

The tribute was made for "his ongoing commitment to supporting communities by setting up successful interventions to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour."

Mick Gill, force kennel manager at Solberge, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for Police Staff for his 30 years of hard work caring for literally hundreds of police dogs.

And Special Sergeant Phillip Brette of Stokesley was awarded the Glenn Goodman trophy for his exemplary work on cross-border crime.

The award – one of North Yorkshire Police’s premier honours – is given in memory of SC Glenn Goodman, who was tragically shot dead by an IRA gunman while on duty in Tadcaster in 1992.

PC Richard Farrar of York was the public choice winner on the night, following his courageous act to apprehend an armed thief singlehandedly, on a busy Saturday night in York city centre.

He said: “I am truly honoured, humbled and proud to be the public choice winner so thank you to all those who nominated me.

" I accepted the award in memory of my friend and colleague Nina Mackay from the Metropolitan Police, who was fatally stabbed in her course of duty 20 years ago almost to the day.

"This incident is a reminder of the risks that myself and police officers face in serving and protecting the public every dayacross the county and the country."