ONE of Stratford-on-Avon District Council’s CCTV operators has been honoured at the Warwickshire Police Awards Ceremony for the work carried out in tracking a prisoner who escaped from HMP Hewell.

The district council’s operator received the Chief Constable’s Commendation at the recent award ceremony.

Commendations are normally reserved for police officers, but in special circumstances may be awarded to members of the community. The award was given for CCTV’s work in the capture of a prison escapee who was serving a sentence for double murder.

In October last year the CCTV operator was instrumental in helping track down a prisoner who had absconded from the prison, between Redditch and Bromsgrove, and had been on the run for 10 days, by identifying the prisoner and then communicating with the police to lead them to the exact location where he was hiding in Alcester.

Councillor Gillian Roache, community safety, health & well being, said: "This is an excellent acknowledgement for the district council’s CCTV team in how their work is instrumental in protecting our district's residents and communities from harm.

"It is also an excellent example of partnership working with the police."