Three Devon and Cornwall finalists in National Control Awards
Devon and Cornwall Police is honoured with the news that it has three finalists in the National Control Room Awards for 2024.
These awards celebrate the immense skill, commitment, and resilience of individuals and teams working in control rooms across various services, including police, fire, ambulance, HM Coastguard, and other critical control operations throughout the UK.
The three finalists are:
The Enhanced Crisis Communication Team is a finalist in the Team of the Year category
There are currently around 40 staff trained as Enhanced Crisis Communicators (ECC's) working in both Exeter and Plymouth Control Rooms. Each has been trained to communicate with those threatening self-harm or suicide. Their role is to provide early intervention tactics when managing incidents of this type.
Inspector Vicky Grimwood is a finalist in the Leader of the Year category.
Vicky is an Inspector in the Force Contact Centre, providing operational management. She has taken the lead for the rollout of Right Care, Right Person and her leadership through this project has been superb, alongside her everyday leadership qualities.
Sergeant Nigel Sobey is a finalist in the Services to the Public category
Nigel is an Operational Sergeant in Plymouth’s Command and Control Centre. He was responsible for developing Op Keel, an operational continuity plan relating to maritime counter terrorism. Op Keel went live in 2023 and has been used successfully on multiple occasions to support live dynamic incidents.
Assistant Chief Constable Nikki Leaper, the Force lead on contact with the public, said: “We are incredibly proud to see members of the Contact Team announced as finalists with two individuals nominated and a team nominated, making it through to the last stage of these prestigious national awards.
“In Exeter and Plymouth our Control Centre teams work so hard to make it easier for people to contact us and to reduce waiting times when we are needed most.
“With better communication, better use of technology and better accessibility we can help more people, more quickly.
“This continuous improvement also helps us to recruit and retain staff who know they will receive the best training and know that their welfare is also paramount to us.”
Now in their seventh year, the Control Room Awards are the only accolades dedicated to honouring the extraordinary contributions of these often-unseen heroes of the emergency services.
Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on July 18 in Stoke on Trent.
