CHIEF Inspector Scott Johnson has received a certificate of recognition from the Basingstoke Cultural Diversity Consortium.

The award was presented to Ch Inp Johnson, District Commander for Basingstoke and Deane, at The Big Chat event, which was hosted by the diversity consortium.

Ch Inp Johnson was presented with the award by High Sheriff of Hampshire Lady Edwina Grosvenor at the Winklebury Football Complex in October.

He received the award following a combination of positive pieces of work within the district.

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This included the work Basingstoke officers have done to support a stop and search advocacy scheme which allows school pupils an opportunity to ask questions of their local police following stop and search powers being used.

Officers also supported two new Third Party Reporting Centres (TPRCs) which are run by community groups Basingstoke Unites Against Racism and the Basingstoke Multicultural Forum.

TPRCs enable anyone who may face barriers in reporting hate crimes to do so in a safe and supportive environment and this helps address the under-reporting of hate crimes.

Ch Insp Johnson said: “I was very honoured to have received this award at the Big Chat event on behalf of my team. 

“The award is recognition of the very positive relationships we are building in Basingstoke with partners in all sectors.

“Officers and staff work hard to keep people safe, and it is important that we are transparent in how we work and accountable to the communities we serve.

“The certificate will be pride of place in our Neighbourhood Policing Team’s office.”