A police officer from Rickmansworth who set up an operation targeting people who travel in to Three Rivers from other areas to commit crimes has been shortlisted for an award.

PC Paul Knowles, from the Rickmansworth and District Safer Neighbourhood Team, along with Thames Valley Police Officer David Mitchell from Gerrards Cross Safer Neighbourhood Team, have been shortlisted for a Pride of Bucks award in the 999 Services Personnel category.

The officers have been recognised for their work in Operation Glucose, a proactive cross border operation on the borders of Thames Valley and Hertfordshire.

The operation, which aims to target criminals crossing borders to commit crime, was devised by the officers and resulted in more than ten operations carried out during 2013 in the Maple Cross and Denham areas.

Their work has also recently resulted in them receiving a Thames Valley Police Commander’s Commendation at a ceremony on Friday, 30 May. The commendation is given to police officers who have displayed exceptional courage, initiative and professionalism.

PCs Knowles and Mitchell were commended for their long term planning and execution of cross-border policing to deter and detect travelling criminals.

The awards ceremony takes place today.

PC Knowles said: "I’m really pleased to have been recognised for my work.

"It really is a partnership effort with Thames Valley Police and our operations have resulted in a number of good results, both forces have seen a significant reduction in crime and working in this way has helped strengthen our team work and intelligence around local offenders and cross border crime trends.

"The operations have led to some great proactive and reactive results including arrests for burglary, theft and a number of traffic offences."

Rickmansworth Neighbourhood Inspector Robin Winder said: "I’m proud that Paul’s work has been recognised in this way.

"Paul shows great dedication and professionalism in his work and I have no doubt that this highly visible operation on our border has helped to deter criminals from committing crime and contributed to the 8.4 per cent crime reduction we experienced last year."

For more crime news click here.