STATION manager Michael Colley is the eyes and ears of the police at Swanwick.

When he spotted two empty-handed youths getting off the train without any tickets he made a mental note of what they looked like.

Hours later when the pair returned armed with a suitcase and shoulder bag the 56-year-old from Totton grew suspicious.

"I saw them rummaging through the contents and pull out a pair of binoculars on the platform.

"I alerted the police and just 15 minutes later they were stopped at Fareham station with all the goods."

The items had been stolen from a burglary in Locks Heath that day and it was Mr Colley's vigilance that helped bring the teenagers to justice.

Mr Colley was just one of 25 community spirited members of the public, long serving constables and brave police officers to be congratulated at an awards ceremony.

Veteran racing commentator Murray Walker did the honours and presented special certificates to all those who have excelled in their public duties.

Speaking to the assembled audience at Fareham's Cams Hall he said it was a "genuine privilege" to present the awards and added that the British police force was the best in the world.

"I was genuinely pleased and privileged when I was asked to come here because I have much respect and admiration for our police force.

"They are scrupulously fair, immaculately trained and most of the public would agree they have a lousy job to do but they gener-ally do it very well."

Supt Graham Haycock came up with the idea for the awards ceremony to reward acts of bravery and good work in the Fareham and Meon Valley area.

Now he hopes the event will become an annual fixture.

"We thought it would be nice for those officers and members of the public who have done something extra special in the last 12 months to be recognised," he said.

ROLL OF HONOUR: FAREHAM'S POLICE AWARDS 2003

COMMUNITY AWARDS:

Dave Compton

Every week Dave, who works for English Nature, spends up to 50 hours a week helping to reduce crime in the Meon Valley's beauty spots by reporting suspicious people to the police and offering crime prevention advice.

Charles Peters

Called the police after stopping someone trying to commit suicide in a smoke-filled car at a caravan park in Wickham.

Michael Colley

Reported two suspicious teenagers at Swanmore train station to police. The pair were later found guilty of carrying out a burglary in Locks Heath.

Josephine Maidment

Gave police footage from her CCTV camera installed in her garden to provide enough evidence to convict vandals.

SUPT'S CONGRATULATIONS:

PC Clive Wilson and PC Jim Heath

Attended a domestic violence incident where

children were present and detained a violent man. At the Park Gate police station the man threw a blood pressure machine causing them injuries.

SEO Angela Korn

Kept a vulnerable missing woman speaking on the phone so police could trace where she was from her mobile signals.

PC Bill Cummings

The Portchester beat officer was on his mountain bike when he chased a van driver believed to be above the drink-drive limit. He caught up with the driver who was eventually banned for a year.

PC Neil Thorne

Prepared Fareham town centre's evacuation plan

and organises police backed SNAP discos for teenagers.

PC Phil Wheeler and PC Rob Tompkins

Chased a defendant from Fareham Youth Court who escaped from security officers. They caught the teenager who is serving eight years in prison for attempted murder and robbery.

PC Phil Wheeler

For his work as one of Fareham's Community Beat Officers.

PC Nick Coleman and PC Jim Heath

Helped restrain a man who slashed his arm with a rusty Stanley knife and was threatening to injure others.

PC Nick Morgan

Arrested two violent offenders for theft.

PC Ian Connor and PC Kerry Woolley

Rescued a man who intended to commit suicide from a smoke-filled car.

OFFICERS OF THE YEAR:

Section Officer of the Year and Supt's Congratulations: PC Sandra Bennett

Section Officer of the Year: PC Tim Warner at Meon Valley

Fareham Section Patrol Officer of the Year: PC Mike Anderton

Fareham CID Officer of the Year: Det Con Martyn Allen

Probationer of the year: PC Mark Allen

Support Staff Member of the Year: Steve Roberts

Special Constables of the Year: Stuart Hickman, Dave Collins

Special Constable Long Service: Robert Edwards, Helen Pattison, Lydia Thompson