A police officer has received an award for her work in protecting wildlife in Staffordshire. Pc Ellie Sewell of Trent Valley division of the county force received the Elsie Ashley Award in the recent force awards.

In June last year the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds contacted Staffordshire Police after visiting a breeding pair of peregrine falcons in the Cannock area. The female bird was missing and the male bird had been injured by illegal traps and the two chicks had been left to starve. The adult male died and tests revealed that in addition to the injuries it had sustained the bird had also been poisoned.

Pc Sewell, based at Tamworth where she works as a response officer on the incident management unit, investigated and found it was not an isolated incident. Following an appeal a number of witnesses came forward with information about pigeon fanciers who were targeting nests.

Pc Sewell co-ordinated the execution of four warrants at addresses across the West Midlands which led to two arrests. The two chicks made a full recovery.

The Lord Lieutenant’s Award for student officer of the year went to Pc Emma Rainsford, of Trent Valley division who joined the force in March 2007 and has served at Burton and more recently at Tamworth. Sgt Caroline Bailey, also of Trent Valley, was presented with the High Sheriff’s Millennium Vase for the most meritorious act of the year.

She has responsibility for the Crime Reduction Partnership which covers Tamworth, Lichfield and Burntwood.

In 2008 when funding was being reduced for one of her programmes regarding violent crime she undertook a review of this area of business and prepared a bid for funding from local government. This bid was successful.

The Police Authority Diversity in Action Award was given to the Project Turnaround team from Trent Valley for its work in partnership with Community and Learning Partnerships, Tamworth Borough Council, Youth Offending Services and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

Detective Inspector Jane Hewett, of Chase division, received the Susan Parker Award for her leadership and work with the divisional pro-active team.