A TOWN centre bobby has reached the finals of the national competition for the best police officers.

PC Mike Diffin, community beat manager for the Broadgreen area, is heading to the Park Lane Hilton in London tomorrow to find out if he has won the Jane’s Police Review Community Police Officer of the Year award.

He was singled out for praise for his work in the small but diverse area, which includes residents from 50 ethnic groups and was once well known as a red light district.

Inspector Madge Lynch said: “Mike has developed excellent community cohesion and addressed problems in the area through innovative community consultation events, which are dealt with in partnership via the neighbourhood tasking group which meets every five weeks.

“Mike works very hard to understand the local issues and attends every meeting changing his shifts to accommodate this. He works on rest days for non payment, and is on call for his community at all times.”

Since he has been working in the area, anti-social behaviour has dropped by 10 per cent, criminal damage by 25 per cent and vehicle crime by 36 per cent.

One of his initiatives was to address anti-social behaviour at Tesco, in Ocotal Way, by setting up a drop-in surgery and encouraging security staff to work with the police.

He also goes into local schools to do presentations and has worked with teachers on how to record statements of evidence. And he trains other community beat managers in Wiltshire.

Insp Lynch added: “Mike is one of the most dedicated and innovative officers I have ever worked with.“ Mark Walker, who works for Swindon Council and sits on the Broadgreen Tasking Group with PC Diffin, also praised him for his work.

“Considering central ward has some real challenges around its location to the Town Centre, its black and minority ethnic mix, lack of open space and community space, Mike has made huge strides to reduce problems with the evening and night time economy, problems with the red light area, engaging with local residents to rekindle the local neighbourhood watch and reconnect a link and trust with policing in the neighbourhood.”

And Coun Bob Wright (Lab, Central) praised his work on tackling the area’s problems with prostitution.

He said: “There has been a significant sustained improvement for the benefit of all.

“Compared with previous attempts to deal with this problem this is an exceptional piece of police work.”