Police have celebrated another group of officers and staff for going above and beyond to serve their communities and keep the public safe.

The Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Local Commander Awards ceremony saw 34 officers and staff members receive awards for their hard work and dedication.

PCs Will Picter and Andy Lewis were recognised for their diligence and commitment when taking ownership of a difficult job and seeing it through to conclusion.

The pair came on shift one day and were given six prisoners to take ownership of.

Five of the six were for a nasty affray involving knives and baseball bats, with a number of outstanding enquiries.

Whilst already under pressure to deal with so many prisoners, Will and Andy took the time to follow further investigative leads and subsequently identified key CCTV evidence which will now be a central pillar for the prosecution of some dangerous individuals.

They then dealt with all five prisoners as well as identifying a sixth and arranging for his arrest. There was a clear juncture where they could have handed the job over, but they chose to stay late and finish it off.

PCs Dale Evans and Chris Field were celebrated for their proactivity and tenacity in doing all they could to robustly apprehend a high-risk domestic violence offender with a great use of their policing powers.

The pair sent a strong message that the horrific crimes police suspected the man to be committing against his ex-girlfriend and her horse, are not tolerated.

When the offender was obstructive, they persevered and ended up seizing his car. He required robust management and claimed that police were harassing him, something which was proven to be untrue.

Their hard work showed that police will always take steps to keep victims safe from harm.

Acting Sergeant Meredith Gosden was praised for her tenacity, courage and commitment when she managed a particularly challenging incident by apprehending a large man who attempted to evade arrest.

The man was subsequently detained and arrested after Meredith was fearless in the delivery of her duties.

An Inspector, Sergeant, Detective Sergeant and 10 PCs were awarded for the part they've played in the newly formed Vanguard Team.

Within the first month of inception the Vanguard Team have arrested dangerous, prolific offenders who have had little regard for the law and conditions placed upon them.

They did this while forging and galvanising strong relationships and links with Neighbourhood and Local Policing colleagues.

The team have developed intelligence and executed a number of warrants which have resulted in drugs being seized, stolen property and large amounts of cash being recovered.

They have demonstrated incredible grit, determination and diligence, working really long hours and changing shifts.

They team were described as an absolute credit to the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury LPA as well as the wider constabulary.

PC Harry Pound from the Cheltenham Neighbourhood Team was praised for his dedication and commitment when working with the Vanguard Team on a possession with intent to supply drugs investigation.

Harry stayed on to help prepare the interview for the offender, who had been arrested with approximately a quarter of a kilo of cocaine and four thousand pounds in cash.

This effectively assisted the Vanguard Team in being able to complete their investigations and forensic enquiries to get the job rolling.

PCs James Shaw and Charlie Pascoe-Watson were highlighted for their diligence and determination when tackling an offender on a bike after he made off following a burglary.

The man was stopped and arrested as he was in possession of various stolen garden machinery and power tools.

The items were recovered and helped to form part of the investigation into his offending.

Superintendent Roddy Gosden said: "It is great to see the true resilience, hard work and character of those awarded.

"My officers run towards danger when most would run away from it and I am incredibly proud to have had the opportunity to honour each and every person who received an award.

"I would like to say a massive thank you to my officers for always going above and beyond what is expected of them."

The ceremony took place at Holland House Police Station in Cheltenham on Friday, June 24.