THEY salvaged a stolen piece of York’s heritage and brought parents who forced their children to live in squalor to justice – now the cream of North Yorkshire’s crime-busters have been honoured.

In an awards ceremony at York’s Guildhall police officers from across York and Selby were hailed for their outstanding work and bravery in helping make the areas a safer place to live.

Superintendent Lisa Winward, the Safer Neighbourhood Commander for York, honoured 30 top police officers with Area Commander’s Commendations at the ceremony yesterday.

She was joined by Acting Detective Chief Inspector Steve Smith who said: “This awards ceremony is about giving something back to the police officers who go above and beyond the call of duty – those that dedicate their time in bringing those who are guilty to justice – which is the best way of helping the victims of crime.

Among those to receive the honour of an Area Commander’s Commendation were Inspector Shaun Page, Sgt Martin Wedgewood, PC Antony Smith, PC Stuart Hodge and DC Debbie Outwin, and Paul McAuliffe and Amy Fenwick from the Safer York Partnership.

The team helped ensure the mother and father who imprisoned their pre-school youngsters for months in a house of horror were each sent to jail for three years.

The three children were discovered to be living in the Clifton house in stinking, squalid condition last year. It was months of police work that ensured that the parents faced the courts for what they had put the youngsters through.

“The children are now thriving in loving, caring homes.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Smith said: “The prompt and decisive action taken by all concerned, working to support each other, and most importantly the children at the house, is most deserving of recognition.”

Sgt Martin Wedgewood said: “I was horrified when I stepped into the house. There was rubbish up to the knees and beyond – it was without a doubt the worst house I have ever seen.”

He said on winning the award: “I am very proud and pleased to get recognised for the work it took to put into such a difficult case.”

PC Antony Smith recalled the moments he first stepped inside the house. “As the door opened there was dirt and grime as far as the eye could see,” he said.

“The smell was disgusting and the three children were found in a terrible state with nappy sores. You could just tell they had not been looked after.”

He said: “It is nice to be awarded for doing your job – but what is more important, is knowing that your work has helped make a difference in these children’s lives.”

Insp Page said: “It is an honour – but an honour which is received under sad circumstances concerning the children involved.”


Officers traced stolen antique

AN ANTIQUE weather forecasting instrument stolen by visitors at a York tourist attraction was recovered and returned home – thanks to the hard work of two police officers.

PC Simon Fennell and PC Gary Magnay were the key officers in the investigation into the theft of the £150,000 ivory and brass-plated barometer – part of Fairfax House’s Noel Terry Collection of English Furniture and Clocks – which was stolen from the York Civic Trust-owned museum, in Castlegate, in May this year.

As The Press exclusively reported at the time, a man and a woman – later identified as Adele Wright and petty crook Simon Hargreaves – were captured on CCTV casually unscrewing the Daniel Quare instrument, with the man then shoving the artefact down his blue jacket.

Thanks to the hard work of the two officers, who matched fingerprints from a catalogue that Hargreaves and Wright had studied before committing the theft, the thieves were captured and the barometer – discovered buried in a plastic bag – was retuned to its home.

PC Fennell said: “We are both very pleased for the award and the successful outcome of the case.

“The most important thing is that the barometer was returned back to Fairfax House and to the people of York.”

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Steve Smith said, on handing an Area Commander’s Commendation to the officers said: “The professionalism and tenacity of both officers resulted in the conviction of both people and perhaps on this occasion more importantly the recovery of a very valuable antique which has been returned to Fairfax House.”