Award for Pc's travellers work

A police constable who has worked with large groups of travellers in Surrey has been named Community Police Officer of the Year at an awards ceremony.

Pc John Hockley has spent more than 20 years trying to ease tensions between travellers and other members of the public in the Cranleigh area.

He has helped set up two Neighbourhood Watch schemes at travellers' sites.

His award from Jane's Police Review magazine includes a £3,000 grant for studying policing in another country.

Mr Hockley's patch covers four affluent villages and five travellers' sites.

'Community respect'

He has had to deal with threats of vigilante action from both sections of the community, but he thinks he has managed to successfully tackle the problems.

"I believe I have got the respect of not just the travellers, but the full community," he said.

Mr Hockley is currently dealing with the problems of anti-social behaviour and traveller children being kept out of school.

Jan Berry, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales and one of the award judges, said: "Pc Hockley is commended for his successful integration of the traveller and local communities."

He beat 40 other officers to win the award on Thursday night.