COMMUNITY safety officers are urging local people to help in the search for the best police officers working within Hambleton.

Nominations are being taken as part of North Yorkshire Police Authority's competition to find the county's Community Police Officer of the Year.

Each of the county's eight districts will have one police officer entered into local finals of the contest. The winner will take part in the national finals this autumn.

The award is a celebration of the reassurance, assistance and professional commitment provided by the traditional bobby on the beat and is an opportunity to mark the role community police officers make.

Nominations for any uniformed police officer are welcome - although police community support officers and specials are exempt, as they have their own awards scheme later in the year.

"The police are looking for officers who, on a day-to-day basis, have contact with their communities," said Chris Fields, manager of Hambleton Community Safety Partnership.

"We want to see nominations from local groups and organisations, as well as members of the public.

"Community policing is the cornerstone of policing in the county and this scheme acknowledges the work these officers do."

Nominations must be made via a form which can be accessed on www.northyorkshire.police.uk or www.nypa.org.uk

Alternatively, call the police on the forces non-emergency number for details, 0845 60 60 247. Nominations must be received by June 21.