POLICE officers and members of the public were honoured for their good conduct and quick-thinking yesterday.

Della Cannings, the chief constable of North Yorkshire Police, hosted an awards ceremony at police headquarters in Newby Wiske, near Northallerton.

A certificate of merit was presented to Detective Constable Christine Smalley, of the child abuse investigation team at Scarborough, for her handling of an extremely shy young girl. Her investigation resulted in a conviction at York Crown Court.

A Royal Humane Society Resuscitation Certificate was awarded to Victoria Rhodes, who gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to a cyclist who suffered a heart attack and fell off his bike at Gouthwaite Reservoir, Nidderdale, in 2004.

The cyclist was taken to hospital by ambulance and made a full recovery.

The same certificate had already been presented to Thomas Keighley, who performed first aid until the ambulance arrived.

Paramedics said their actions undoubtedly saved his life.

Commendations went to Sergeant Rob Settle, PC Colin Wilson and PC James Farr, of the specialist support department at Tadcaster, for their handling of a firearms incident at Eggborough last year.

Long-service and good conduct awards went to Sergeant Andy Duffield, Sergeant Peter Bainbridge, PC Stephen Kirkbright, PC Howard Allison, Inspector Tony Landray, Detective Inspector Tony Quinn, Detective Constable John Bosomworth, PC Mark Tiffany, Sergeant Richard Walls and Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Mann, head of the specialist support department.

Lynsey Swales was presented with a Smart Ideas Innovation Award for her suggestion to put vacancies on a North Yorkshire Police Intranet so potential applicants could see the role profile before requesting an application pack.