York PC Dave White was one of seven district winners of the Community Police Officer Of The Year Awards, who were praised for their hard work at an awards ceremony at Hovingham Hall last night.

The awards, organised by North Yorkshire Police Authority, recognise the work of front-line police officers working within the communities of North Yorkshire.

Members of the public, organisations and senior police officers were invited to nominate their top cop.

PC White was nominated by the Safer York Partnership and local community groups.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "He launched a scheme using surveillance cameras in a number of houses, supported by a major publicity scheme to tackle a spate of house burglaries, which saw a serious reduction in offences.

"He also tackled a graffiti problem by working with environmental officers to identify, arrest and convict an offender, whose community punishment included cleaning up graffiti."

He also introduced an alcohol free zone to tackle vagrants drinking around Scarcroft Green, set up a number of residents' watch groups, worked closely with young people to set up adventure training schemes with the Army during school holidays, and compiled CRASBO applications to tackle known car thieves, which have seen car crime drop in the city.

Selby winner PC David Herbert was nominated by Hemingbrough Parish Council. He set up a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme, helped evict a tenant who was causing problems with antisocial behaviour, and executed drugs warrants.

The spokesman said: "By carrying out regular high-visibility patrols, regularly attending parish council meetings, often in his own time, and his willingness to engage with the community, he has been credited with not only reducing crime, but also the fear of crime."

Other regional winners were Easingwold-based PC Martyn Davies, who was nominated by Easingwold School, Huby Neighbourhood Watch and the town's Galtres Centre and Ryedale's PC Lewis Twitchett, who launched a scheme where local residents patrol the area at night.

PC Nick Widdowson, of Harrogate, PC John Wilbor of Richmond and PC Keith Carrick, of Whitby also made the list.