“Brilliant ambassador” cop wins national award for tackling hate crime

A POLICE officer leading the way on tackling hate crime in Rotherham who “works tirelessly to support those from harder to reach communities” has won a national award.

PC Chris Nicholson was named Law Enforcement Upstander of the Year at the National No2H8 Crime Awards in London, an event co-ordinated by organisations tackling hatred, intolerance and prejudice.

More than 200 people attended the glittering ceremony at a London hotel, where Chris was joined by his colleague PC Mark Toyne, the hate crime coordinator for Sheffield.

Insp Glyn Shakespeare said: “I nominated Chris for the award in recognition of the work he does to support those within our communities who are victims of hate crime.

“He works tirelessly to support those from harder to reach communities, ensuring everybody understands that for SYP, hate crime will never be tolerated.

“I hope this highlights the ongoing work to support our communities and tackle this crime type.”

PC Nicholson regularly seeks opportunities to highlight the force’s messages, recently getting Killamarsh-born former Sheffield United Women and Doncaster Belles star Millie Bright – a European Championship-winning Lioness – to back the police’s #HateHurts campaign.

He said: “I didn’t know a thing about the award until the week before when I received a surprise email to say I had been shortlisted for an award and I needed to go to London the following week to a black tie event.

“If I'm honest, I was a little bit star-stuck when we had to attend the hotel in the centre of London and saw all the high profile dignitaries and celebrities at the event.

“Never in a million years did I expect to walk away with anything, and I was quite shocked to come away with this national award.”

Chief Insp Mark Goddard, force lead for hate crime, added: “Chris is a brilliant ambassador for the police when representing us on the local stage and I am glad he has been recognised.”