TWENTY four awards are due to be given out today to dedicated policemen and women whose actions have shone out in the last year.Awards include ten chief constable commendations and eight chief constables certificates of merit as well as two trophies to the dog section.

TWENTY four awards are due to be given out today to dedicated policemen and women whose actions have shone out in the last year.

Awards include ten chief constable commendations and eight chief constables certificates of merit as well as two trophies to the dog section.

Among the award winners will be Julian Ditcham who will be given the prestigious Martin Smith award.

Donated by former Police Authority chairman, Martin Smith, it is given to the uniformed officer who has displayed exceptional professionalism, dedication and commitment over a period of 12 months.

Pc Ditcham is a patrol officer based in Ipswich and has been described by his colleagues as "an exceptional officer who sets himself the highest possible standards and always achieves them."

He has been in the force for 13 years and acts as an area car driver, is a police support unit officer, a tutor constable and is also an authorised firearms officer.

During the last year he has made 78 arrests.

Dog handler Pc Neil Smith is also due to receive the Chief Constables Commendation and a Royal Humane Society Award for helping to save a young woman who fell into the water near to Stoke Bridge last December.

Superintendent Carl Puiy and Inspector Barbara Thompson will also receive Chief Constables awards for the work they did to organise the police response to the England versus Croatia match at Portman Road.

The awards ceremony is to take place at Martlesham Heath police headquarters.