By JULIA RAVENSCROFT

WARRINGTON community safety officer Dave Betts has been awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the New Year's Honours List.

Dave has served Warrington since 1973 and has not only helped to reduce crime but has also been a community champion in the town.

His award is traditionally presented for 'valuable service characterised by resource and devotion to duty including prolonged service marked by exemplary duty, merit and exemplary conduct'.

During his formative time as a beat officer, Dave became involved in community initiatives and immediately identified this approach as the bedrock of successful policing.

He was promoted to sergeant in 1983 and with his guidance the Warrington Homewatch Scheme has grown into one of the most active and successful schemes in the country.

In 1980 Dave underwent treatment for a tumour of the right parotid gland and as a result has paralysis of the right facial nerve. He underwent further surgery to reconstruct and repair the damage done by the tumour in 1994.

But despite his difficulties, Dave is an accomplished public speaker.

In March 1996 he was directly involved in Local Agenda 21 and took the lead in a group looking at crime. As a result, a comprehensive document was submitted for incorporation into the Local Agenda 21 outlining a vision for the future and identifying issues affecting crime.

Out of this, and as a result of youth forums, Dave has developed an awareness of the problems facing the town's young people.

In 1996 Dave and the rest of his team organised a youth seminar and out of this grew the Youth Action Partnership, which has become one of the largest groups of its kind in the country.

Dave is president of the Warrington branch of the Rotary Club and gets involved in other initiatives such as the Aquabox scheme which provides immediate aid for disaster-hit parts of the world.

Dave said: "The award came as a complete surprise.

"It's nice to be so involved in the community because it's not just a job to me in Warrington, it's part of my life.

"The people in Warrington are tremendous and if there's a possibility I've done a little bit of good, that is great."

Congratulating Dave on his honour, Cheshire Constabulary's Chief Constable Nigel Burgess said: "David Betts thoroughly deserves this award of the Queen's Police Medal and the Cheshire Constabulary is very proud of the recognition he has received.

"It is a testament to the untiring commitment he has shown."