DETECTIVE Constable Leanne Brundrett has been named as Cheshire Police’s Officer of the Year for ‘embodying the best of the force’.

DC Brundrett, 37, from Holmes Chapel, works in the Public Protection Directorate based at Northwich Police Station, and was given the accolade, sponsored by the Cheshire Police Federation, at the annual ACE Awards at Wychwood Park in Crewe.

The awards are Cheshire Police’s highest accolades that can be awarded to an individual or team which has gone the extra mile or demonstrated exceptional commitment to the ‘We’re Here’ pillars of policing in the county.

DC Brundrett always goes that extra mile to bring offenders to justice and support victims and families impacted by traumatic and life changing offences.

She drove a victim to a safe location in Scotland despite having already completing her shift and then, following 17 consecutive hours on duty, spending a further two days putting support measures across national geographic borders in place for them.

Her supervisor, DS Warren Nomdedeu, said: “In my 17 years of police service and management of officers and staff I have never before supervised an individual who provides such an outstanding service to victims, the public, her colleagues and our partners in other agencies.

“Leanne embodies the very best of modern policing and Cheshire Police.

“Everything she does is with the utmost professionalism, dedication and compassion and she always puts the victims at the heart of her work to ensure justice is done for them and their families. She is most deserving of the Police Officer of the Year award.”

Judges, prosecution barristers, social care workers and independent domestic violence advocates have also heaped praise on DC Brundrett.

Her extraordinary work ethic and investigation skills and the high level of support she gives victims during and after her investigations is regularly highlighted by external agencies.

DC Brundrett said: “I feel honoured to serve the most vulnerable people in the community.

“I deal with the most horrific cases you can imagine involving children. In these cases the lives of the families concerned have been turned upside down.

“I make sure they get the quality of service they deserve for the horrific crimes they have been subjected to, and the best part of my job is bringing the offenders to justice and getting the best result possible for the victims.

“I give care to victims and their families until they tell me otherwise, not when a case ends, and I am delighted my work and the work of Cheshire Police’s Public Protection Directorate has been recognised at the ACE Awards. It’s a huge honour to have won the award.”

DC Brundrett has also been nominated for a British Association of Women in Policing Award this year and received a Chief Constable’s Commendation.