Police Staff of the Year – Jill DiMartino. Pic: Met Police

A Metropolitan Police officer from Hackney won a prize at the Excellence in Total Policing Awards recognising this week.

Jill DiMartino picked up the Police Staff of the Year Award for her work with the young people of Hackney in the Voluntary Police Cadets.

Since taking over the struggling cadets, DiMartino has seen cadet membership in the borough rise tenfold. As Volunteer Cadet Manager she played a key role in reducing gang involvement and youth violence in the borough.

Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: “Remarkable acts of professionalism and selfless acts of bravery are often carried out in the Metropolitan Police Service, but rarely remarked upon. My officers and staff joined the Met to serve and protect Londoners and make our City safer for everyone. I am proud to lead an organisation where where amazing work is normal.”

A total of twenty awards recognising the professionalism and bravery of Metropolitan police officers across 32 London boroughs were presented.