A GWENT Police officer and a safety warden scheme have received awards from the Home Office for their contribution to policing in the community.

Special Inspector Christine Smith of Gwent Police was presented with the Ferrers Special Constabulary – Individual Award at the House of Commons yesterday for her work with children in the community to help reduce anti-social behaviour.

Ms Smith launched and runs the Making a Difference Project.

The scheme has improved confidence of ‘at risk’ children in the community and she will be rolling out the project across the Gwent force.

Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Community Safety Warden Scheme also won the employer-supported policing award for their work in tackling enviro-crime issues and running a Junior Community Safety Warden scheme in primary schools.

The team of community safety wardens have been accredited since 2006.

The wardens provide community policing support and engagement with local residents.

The Lord Ferrers Awards recognise the outstanding contribution of police special constables and police support volunteers.

The awards were named in honour of the late Lord Ferrers, the former Home Office minister, and were attended at Westminster by Theresa May, the Home Secretary and Policing Minister Damian Green.

The Home Secretary said: “All special constables and police support volunteers make a vital contribution every day to cutting crime and making their communities a better place to live and work.

“The Lord Ferrers Awards celebrate the outstanding commitment of some exceptional special constables and police support volunteers and the drive and energy shown by the winners is truly inspiring.

“I want to thank them all for their professionalism and selfless contribution of time.

“All the nominees are evidence that volunteers can really make a difference to the communities in which they serve.”

Police forces from across England and Wales submitted a total of 94 nominations to the Home Office, from which exceptional candidates were shortlisted.