A COMMUNITY police officer who always goes the extra mile has been honoured with a top national award.

Whitby PCSO Lynne Butler was presented with the Community Service Award at the annual British Association for Women in Policing awards.

She was nominated by Inspector Rachel Wood who praised her colleague for a number of selfless acts.

They included setting up a boxing club in her spare time as a diversionary tactic to antisocial behaviour and asking to dedicate half her working week at a local secondary school to help improve links with young people.

In her nomination, Inspector Wood, who is based at Newby Wiske, said: “Lynne is a PCSO whose passion, dedication and commitment to the local community she serves knows no bounds.

“In my view, Lynne would be an extremely worthy and deserving winner of an international award – she epitomises everything that is good about British policing.”

Chief Constable Dave Jones added: “We are thrilled that Lynne’s work has been recognised in this way.

“We know that we have some fantastic colleagues who go above and beyond to support our communities in North Yorkshire but its extra special when it is recognised nationally.”

Lynne has been a PCSO for North Yorkshire Police for 10 years. Before that she worked in a pet shop.