Community safety patrol officer David Mason has been awarded the British Empire Medal for services to homeless people in the Queen's Birthday Honours.  

David Mason has worked at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council since 2006, first as a community warden, then as a community safety patrol officer, and now as a team leader for the community safety patrol officers.   

He played an instrumental role in working in partnership with homelessness organisations and charities and the local business community to design, develop and deliver a town centre storage scheme where bedding can be stored safely on behalf of homeless people, providing them with additional security and responding to concerns from businesses in relation to bedding being left in shop doorways.   

Over the years, he has worked collaboratively through a number of initiatives to help resolve issues within the community, such as neighbourhood agreements to ease tensions between residents and the Safer Shops Scheme to tackle and deter antisocial behaviour at shopping parades.  

David said: “I am truly overwhelmed to have been put forward for this prestigious award. It is incredibly humbling to be among what is a very special partnership of organisations, charities and individuals all working together to eradicate rough sleeping in Basingstoke and Deane and I am proud to have played a role in contributing to the drop in the number of people sleeping on our streets. The Basingstoke Social Inclusion Partnership aims to tackle rough sleeping and the causes of homelessness by working together and providing tailored support to meet clients’ needs. Our aim is to not only to help people to get off the streets but support them in their ongoing journey away from the streets.  

"Throughout my time at Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council I have always enjoyed working collaboratively to benefit our residents and local businesses, it is an important part of my role as a Community Safety Patrol Officer Team Leader. The town centre storage project identified a need to create a safe, dry storage facility  where rough sleepers could leave their bedding during the day making them feel supported as a first step to changing their lives. With the support of colleagues in the council and outreach I am proud to have delivered this project in the town centre and to be part of the team continuing to drive forward projects such as this for our residents.”  

Council Leader Ken Rhatigan said: “We have a very special and dedicated team of people working here at Basingstoke and Deane and David is a shining example of this. He has demonstrated what can be achieved by working collaboratively to meet the needs of those people rough sleeping and our local town centre businesses.
 

David should be incredibly proud of his achievements and the part he has played and continues to play in reducing the number of people sleeping on our streets in the borough. Through the Social Inclusion Partnership our sole aim is to eradicate rough sleeping and with people on-board who have the expertise and passion of David I know this can be achieved.”