Yeliz Ersiner, a PCSO from Bexley, recently won an achievement award for her dedication and commitment in forging relations with the local community. Yeliz received her award from the Deputy Commissioner Ian Blair (Met Police) at an award ceremony held in Central London after being chosen from a short-list of 12 PCSOs.

Yeliz was selected to receive the award because of the work she has achieved with her ward in Slade Green, Bexley where she has been a PCSO since December 2003.

She made herself a familiar face within the community, visiting residents, both young and old, and making herself available to them for reassurance and advice.

The award ceremony heard how she helped an elderly couple whose car was repeatedly targeted and damaged by vandals. Yeliz regularly visited and reassured the couple but also spoke to neighbours and young people about the problem and after a while damage to the car stopped.

Amongst the many other people she has helped include a couple who own a dry cleaners whose windows were being damaged on a regular basis; she helped to secure funding to have metal shutters installed.