BOBBY Helen Graham has been named as Northumbria Police Force's Community Police Officer of the Year.

She beat 14 other hopefuls to win a statuette at the inaugural award ceremony at force headquarters in Ponteland, Northumberland.

She also received a certificate and a meal at the Copthorne Hotel, Newcastle.

The awards are intended to show how the force's problem- solving approach to policing is helping to make local communities safer.

The Policing in the Community Day also featured presentations for the five best examples of problem-solving in the force area.