A TEAM dedicated to helping the most vulnerable people in their communities has been rewarded with ‘highly commended’ recognition in the World Class Policing Awards.

Durham Constabulary’s Peer Mentors Scheme saw 450 people supported by mentors with life experience, reducing mental health calls to the police and improving their mental and physical wellbeing.

The project aims to reduce the pressure on frontline emergency services, and local councils by engaging with those who make frequent calls to these services and reducing the severity and frequency of the calls.

The support it provides has been so successful that the organisations have now provided training programmes to 14 other forces in the UK and two state forces in the USA.

Durham’s Chief Constable Jo Farrell said: “Four projects were finalists at the World Class Policing Awards, each one of them recognised for their work to improve the lives of people.

“I’d like to thank all the officers and staff involved: their hard work and dedication is a credit to policing, a credit to Durham and makes a real difference to the public we serve.

“I’d particularly like to offer my congratulations to everyone involved in the Community Peer Mentors scheme, it is thoroughly deserved.”