Cambridge mum wins Women in Policing prize
Cambridge Community Chief Inspector Vicky Skeels has scooped a prestigious award for her work mentoring police colleagues and Anglia Ruskin University students.
The mother-of-three was one of nine officers to receive a British Association for Women in Policing (BAWP) award, during a special ceremony in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 2009.
With three children under 11, Ms Skeels balances both her family and a busy policing role. However it was her calm demeanour and the effort she devotes to helping others that earned her the award.
Ms Skeels acts as a professional mentor to Anglia Ruskin University students interested in justice careers. She’s also mentored many police women and staff across Cambridgeshire Constabulary, both officially and unofficially.
Ms Skeels was one of the police negotiators used in the Stansted Hijack in 1999. Historically this has been a very male-dominated area of work, but Ms Skeels has broken down barriers - so much so that women officers now make up over a third of trained active negotiators in Cambridgeshire.
Of her award, Ms Skeels said: “I have been lucky enough to work with some great people over the last 20 years in really challenging situations and I am grateful for all the support I’ve had.”
Cambridgeshire Chief Constable and BAWP President Julie Spence presented the award.
Mrs Spence said: “Each year these awards fill me with pride. I feel proud to be a police officer and to work with such dedicated officers, police staff and volunteers. I am constantly amazed by the capacity of some people for giving their time, energy and commitment to help others.”
Ms Skeels will become the UK’s candidate for the mentoring category for the International Association for Women Police (IAWP) awards later this year.
In 2008 Cambridgeshire Special Constabulary co-ordinator Shahina Ahmed scooped the Police Staff Achievement award from both the BAWP and IAWP.