A COMPUTER specialist has become the first civilian to win Durham Constabulary's top annual award.

The force's system support manager Rob Green, 49, has won the Matt Wilkinson Trophy, which is given for outstanding police work and ideas that make a major contribution to force efficiency.

He and three colleagues developed a computer system that can dip into the force's central repository containing details on incidents, crimes and arrests.

Leading computer firms were unable to come up with a system that met the force's needs.

Ultimately the system will give information on crime patterns and offending hot-spots and will link to similar systems in neighbouring forces.

Mr Green, from South Moor, said: "This was no solo performance, it was a team effort every step of the way - and the support of our management was vital to its success.''

Assistant Chief Constable Ron Hogg said the system 'represents a very significant technological advance which will be critical in driving forward our future business'.

Dog handler PC Daryl Edmunds and his dog Sam won the John Turner Award - for disarming a man with a knife at Bishop Auckland and catching a burglar who had stolen computers from a school at Willington.

The Probationer of the Year was shared by PC James Somersall, of the Chester-le-Street and Durham division, and Darlington-based PC David Nunn.

PC Somersall, 23, impressed his superiors with his extensive knowledge of criminals and instinct to prevent and detect crime.

PC Nunn, 29, has shown creativity and innovation in tackling crime and earned a letter of appreciation from Chief Constable George Hedges and St John Ambulance for his sensitivity in handling a suicide.