MEMBERS of the Tavistock Section of Special Constables received awards at the Chief Constable?s Award Ceremony last Thursday. The ceremony took place at Oldway Mansion in Paignton, with both the Acting Chief Constable Nigel Arnold and the Commander for South and West Devon, Chief Superintendent Andy Clarke, presenting their awards ? including a team Commendation to Tavistock?s section of the Special Constabulary. The members of the Tavistock section ? Special Chief Inspector Barry Pyke, Special Inspector Alan Fisher, Special Sergeant Paul Carver, and Special Constables Louise Hodge, Neal Crump, Ben Rowe, Dougie Collins and Karen Insley ? were commended for providing ?a professional service to the community, with each officer providing an average of nearly 400 hours of good quality service per annum over the last three years?. The section was also described in the citation as having provided very high levels of turnout to planned and very short notice community events. The section has grown to nine over the past two years and the overall level of performance was said to be ?consistently above that expected of a small section of the Special Constabulary?. Special Sergeant Paul Carver also received a Commander?s Certificate for ?personal courage and professionalism? in attending an incident with another Special Constable at the Plume of Feathers public house in Princetown. The award said upon arrival they were ?confronted with two conflicting groups of people who had been drinking and were extremely agitated. The officers immediately took charge and successfully separated the two groups, diffusing this volatile confrontation?. It was alleged a man had been waving a knife prior to their arrival, the man was identified and a large piece of wood removed from his possession. Special Chief Inspector Barry Pyke also received a Commander?s Certificate. He was said to lead ?by example and from the front? in terms of setting ?the highest standards in personal courage, integrity, appearance and bearing?. The award continued that Special Chief Inspector Pyke?s leadership had seen the sections in West Devon develop, grow and perform to a a high level, and he had been an excellent mentor. He had dealt with incidents including domestic violence, sudden deaths and serious assaults, and was described as ?a most remarkable member of the Special Constabulary?. His individual contribution over the 11 years of his service at all levels had been ?outstanding?.