THREE members of the Avon and Somerset Police 'family' have received awards in the New Year Honours list.

*THE man supporting Taunton Deane's Mayor is likely to be supported by her when he travels to Buckingham Palace to collect his MBE.

Adrian Prior-Sankey - himself a former Mayor and Consort to his wife, Hazel, who currentl;y holds the post - is in the New Year's Honours LKist "for service to the community of Taunton".

Mr Prior-Sankey is a police chaplain and for more than 20 years he has been a lead member of the Faith Communities’ Response to Major Emergencies, serving as a joint co-ordinator of the scheme with senior force chaplain Andy Paget.

He has also been the co-ordinator for Taunton’s Street Pastor team for more than a decade and is the representative for the organisation across the Avon and Somerset police area.

His links with Avon and Somerset Police stretch back to 1978, when he joined as a special constable at the age of 18, although he resigned a few years later to complete his professional studies.

Ironically he assisted a police officer colleague with an arrest on his way home from returning his uniform.

After a short career in local government, he joined the ministry team at Creech St Michael Baptist Church concluding his pastoral work there as the assistant minister in 2003 to work as the communications manager for The Salvation Army in the South West.

The former Wellington School student was also a LibDem councillor on Taunton Deane Borough Council for a period and is a director of Taunton Flower Show.

In 2007 he co-founded Taunton Street Pastors and served in a voluntary and latterly part-time capacity as co-ordinator.

After four years working as an advocate across Somerset, he took up the tole of lead chaplain of Taunton Team Chaplaincy and undertakes his police chaplaincy role as part of that ministry.

He has worked for more than 20 years alongside the senior force chaplain Andy Paget to develop and train participants in the Faith Communities' Response to Major Emergencies Plan.

He was invited to become a police chaplain in 2015 to support police officers, staff and their families at Taunton Police Station last spring and also provides chaplaincy cover at Sandy Padgett House (the Bridgwater Police Centre).

Mr Prior-Sankey said: “Police chaplains offer a sympathetic ear to those who wish to talk about any aspect of life, especially stressful events.

"They welcome questions about spirituality and what gives life meaning, but are also happy just to talk about football results.

"Personally, I never underestimate the privilege of being able to share with individuals in confidence about the highs and lows of their life's journey.

"Whilst I am a Christian minister, chaplaincy support is offered to those of any faith or none.

“I have appreciated a number of conversations which have helped me to understand the pressures faced by frontline police personnel.

"I hope that my genuine interest and concern for their physical, emotional and spiritual well-being has been evident and shown them that they are valued.

“Street pastoring has also been a significant part of my life for the past 10 years.

"It has been humbling to work with more than 100 volunteers, drawn from different churches in the Taunton area.

"We work in partnership with the police and other agencies to make a real difference to the lives of thousands of people late at night in the town centre - and since 2014 during the day time in the community as well.

"The recognition of the team's work by the Queen's Award for Volunteering in 2014 was a highlight of my time as the team’s co-ordinator."

Mr Prior-Sankey, who has been married for 37 years with three adult children and 10 grandchildren, paid tribute to the influence of his parents, the support of his family and the many volunteers he has worked with.

He added: "This is a great honour and is really a recognition of the service that the amazing teams of volunteers that I work with offer, whether it is the chaplains and street pastors providing a much needed listening ear for people in workplaces and on our streets, or enthusiasts offering a range of high quality activities for young Sea and Royal Marines Cadets or delivering a top class cultural event like Taunton Flower Show.

"I am particularly thankful for people who have worked alongside me in a united efforts to nurture a peaceful and strong community.

“My parents were both active in the Scout and Guide movements and provided me with a great example of public service.

"The opportunities they gave me to engage in a wide spectrum of community activities fostered a love of voluntary work and a passion for the community of Taunton which opened doors to friendships that have matured over many years.

“I am extremely gratefully to whoever nominated me for this honour.

"My wife Hazel and our extended family have supported me enthusiastically over many years and the public recognition of the activities with which I have been associated is as much a reflection of their dedication as anything I have undertaken.”

*Avon and Somerset Police Chief Constable Andy Marsh – who started his policing career as a recruit in Bath in 1987 - receives the Queen’s Police Medal.

He built his early leadership skills, working in uniform in Bath, Bristol and Somerset in various operational and detective roles.

As a detective sergeant he helped to re-shape the force’s approach to the way major crime was investigated.

He served as police commander for South Bristol and then three years in a similar position in the former Somerset East policing district between 2001 and 2006, before moving to Wiltshire as an Assistant Chief Constable.

He returned to Avon and Somerset in the same role in 2009 and was responsible for creating the major crime and specialist operations service which led to the implementation of Brunel – now a tri-force major crime investigation collaboration with Wiltshire and Gloucestershire.

He also led the formation of Zephyr - now the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit - working across five forces in the region and committed to dismantling and destroying organised crime.

In, he joined Hampshire Police as Deputy Chief Constable.

Leading on change and performance for the force, he implemented transformation securing £55 million savings and delivering top quartile performance as Hampshire became recognised as one of the best value for money forces nationally.

In February 2013 he was appointed Chief Constable of Hampshire.

In his three years as chief, he led the implementation of a new operating model built around local partnerships; built collaborative operational service with Thames Valley Police; and partnered with Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service on a range on support services. The partnership was subsequently consolidated and extended to provide services for Oxfordshire County Council.

The changes - which saved a further £25 million - established Hampshire as the fifth lowest cost force in the country and one that consistently secured some of the highest level of public confidence.

Throughout his career, he has been committed to creating an environment at work where officers, police staff and volunteers can flourish.

Fairness, equity, openness and inclusivity underpin his approach to leadership and are critical to building trust within communities, a key challenge for policing at a time when greater transparency and accountability are rightly being demanded by the public.

While in Hampshire he was the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for firearms licensing.

In January 2014, Chief Constable Marsh was appointed national policing lead for body worn video, high spec cameras that enable police officers to build trust with the public and provide a more accurate and verifiable digital record of evidence.

Use of the technology in Hampshire was not only cutting edge within Britain but led and informed global use of body worn video by law enforcement agencies.

He has also overseen the introduction of BWV in Avon and Somerset.

He is also the NPCC lead for international co-ordination, working with overseas law enforcement to build their capability and capacity to promote the rule of law and prevent crime and harm projecting into the UK.

He supervised the deployment of more than 150 officers to the hurricane-ravaged British Virgin Islands and Antigua earlier this year.

Chief Constable Marsh's citation for the Queen’s Police Medal was for his “dedication to policing”.

He said: “I’m very proud to receive this award. Policing is a vocation which I consider myself fortunate to have been involved with since I joined Avon and Somerset Constabulary as a police officer 30 years ago.

“To return as Chief Constable, leading a force whose officers, police staff and volunteers are involved in making a difference in thousands of potentially life-changing incidents every day is a privilege.

"To be awarded the Queen’s Police Medal as serving chief in the force I first joined, is a very great honour indeed.

“It is a moment for me to reflect upon the outstanding bravery, compassion and professionalism of the men and women I have worked alongside, who have and continue to support me. The award is as much about them as me."

Chief Constable Marsh and his wife Nikki – an Assistant Chief Constable with Avon and Somerset - have two daughters.

Away from his desk, he enjoys fly fishing, running and rowing. In 2013 he collected the bronze medal in the rowing championships of the World Fire and Police Games.

*The OBE goes to Norman Pascal, who retired from the force earlier this year after a career spanning three decades which began in the former Bishopsworth Police Station in 1987.

In 1992 he moved to Bath as a detective and three years later went to the force training school as a trainer, mainly delivering major incident room training for detectives of all ranks before being promoted to sergeant at Avon Street, dealing with vehicle crime.

He returned to Bath and North East Somerset, where he was responsible for developing the first crime and disorder audit.

He was then promoted to inspector and served as a force incident manager in the communications team at police headquarters with promotion to chief inspector following with responsibility for the roads policing team as well as performing the role of silver commander for various operations.

A spell in the professional standards department followed, where he led on counter corruptions and public complaints, after which he became uniform chief inspector for the former South Gloucestershire policing district, returning to Bath under the new operating model.

His last two years with Avon and Somerset were spent developing links with local communities, concentrating in particular on schools, colleges and universities to build confidence and enable the force to increase its make-up of people from diverse backgrounds.

He said: "I always wanted to retire as commander of Trinity Road in the heart of my community but never achieved it – however I did end my working career at Trinity Road.”

Commenting on his police career, he added: "There has been significant change, most of which is better - for example, partnership working with different public service organisations. The main detraction is the lower numbers of police officers on the street.

“There have been highs and lows throughout my career - in 1992 I arrested and dealt with a paedophile who was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

"The tipper truck incident in Bath in February 2015 was a really difficult incident to deal with as a number of my staff were affected by it and some are still feeling the impact of this incident, even today.”

Most of his police service has been spent as part of the Black Police Association, the highlight of which was hosting the annual meeting and conference in 2007, themed Our Journey Abolition 200.

The citation for the OBE reads: “For services to diversity in the community in A&S.”

He said: “To receive such an honour is very humbling as the first black chief inspector in Avon and Somerset.

"It shows the journey that the force has been on and where it is now, that has enabled a black man to rise through the ranks and be able to lead its staff.

"And I know because of the foundations we have laid, representation will go on improving for many years to come.

“What does the OBE mean to me? It is really great to be recognised for the work we were doing which was not everyday policing but just as important.

"It means this work has been recognised by the force and the state and the impact it has had in our communities.

"The award is not just for me but for all who worked with us and supported us on the journey, including the officers and police staff who have now joined us.

"In time hopefully, Avon and Somerset Police will be viewed as a true and trusted member of the local communities."

In his new career out of uniform, Chief Inspector Pascal plans to keep active.

He is doing voluntary work, with Nilaari - a mental health charity on Stapleton Road – and he is also director of the Cabot Learning Federation, trying to ensure the best start in life for young people in schools.

His main leisure interest is golf and he captains the Manor House Golf Club.

He is married to Julie and the couple have two children and two grandchildren.

Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens said: "I would like to personally congratulate Chief Constable Andy Marsh on his QPM, Norman Pascal on his OBE and Adrian Prior-Sankey his MBE.

“Andy Marsh has an extensive career in policing and his services protecting and serving our local communities goes above and beyond the call of duty.

“During his time with the constabulary, Norman’s work with the diverse communities of Avon and Somerset led to much respect and support from all those who worked alongside him.

“Finally, Adrian’s contribution to the local community of Taunton and in supporting the wider policing effort has and continues to be invaluable and this recognition is richly deserved.

“This is an incredible achievement and I couldn’t think of three individuals more deserving of these accolades.”