Drug-busting cop up for top award

2:10pm Tuesday 19th August 2008

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A SWINDON cop who helped rid the town's streets of more than £100,000 of drugs has been nominated for a national award.

PC Nigel Lord has been nominated for a top gong to celebrate his achievements in the field of tackling drugs.

PC Lord has been nominated for one of the Home Office's Tackling Drugs Changing Lives Awards, which recognise, reward and celebrate the unsung heroes on the front-line who are working to tackle drugs and change lives every day.

PC Lord was nominated for his excellent work as a field intelligence officer.

During the last three years he has been directly responsible for many successful proactive operations, resulting in the arrest of offenders and seizure of drugs with a street value of more than £100,000.

Through his work in apprehending offenders, PC Lord has helped to reduce the fear of crime and the impact of drug use within communities.

Within the past year, individuals who PC Lord targeted have received sentences ranging from four to eight years, which has helped to reduce drugs supply in Swindon.

Detective Sergeant Mark Smith, said: "Nigel Lord's efforts are continuous and he is prepared to work long and anti-social hours to ensure that the opportunities for gathering intelligence on offenders are maximised.

"Much of this is in his own time and naturally has an impact on his family life. He is an example to other officers and is recognised for the tenacious manner in which he targets drug dealers within Swindon."

The awards were launched by Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker, who said: "I know that drug workers and drug teams across the country are working tirelessly everyday to tackle drugs and change lives.

"In fact, I have met many people and teams who deserve to be nominated for these awards.

"These awards recognise their inspirational examples, which will help us to realise our ambition of fewer people starting to use drugs and for our society to be free from the problems caused by illegal substances."

Two awards are available, one for an individual and one for a team, each winner will receive £10,000 for their organisation to spend on the prevention or treatment of drug misuse.

The winners will be announced towards the end of 2008 at a ceremony in London.

Last month PC Lord was praised by Chief Constable Brian Moore and an awards ceremony in Devizes.