Telford police officer honoured with MBE
A dedicated Telford police officer who has spent years making the neighbourhood he serves a safer place to live has been made an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Sergeant Louis Hylton, who has served as a police officer for West Mercia Police for the last 23 years, receives the honour for services to policing and the community.
The honour comes in recognition of Sergeant Hylton’s work in tackling anti-social behaviour and the significant difference he has made to the engagement between the police service and the community.
Currently based at Madeley Police Station, Sergeant Hylton has worked closely with partner agencies and local residents to tackle anti-social behaviour by encouraging a pro-active approach by his officers and members of the Special Constabulary. He has led a number of initiatives and has fully engaged with the community he serves through holding residents’ meetings, putting out information in local parish magazines and through leaflet drops.
When arrests are necessary in his local policing area Sergeant Hylton always makes a concerted effort to be involved and has led the execution of warrants for theft and drug offences, but in a conspicuous manner in order to provide community reassurance.
Sergeant Hylton, who initially thought that the letter notifying him of his honour was a wind up, said: “I got the letter about six weeks ago and thought it was one of the lads blagging me. I thought that I wouldn’t say anything until I saw it in black and white.
“I feel really humbled to be honest.
“I may well have been the one who was nominated but I wouldn’t have got it without the great bunch of people working at Madeley. It’s a cliché but it’s a team effort.
“I can’t over emphasise the fact that my colleagues – the Police Officers, the Community Support Officers and the Specials and everyone who works with us – really are fantastic at their jobs. There’s such a good team here.
“I’m thrilled.”
Sergeant Hylton is also recognised for being a good ambassador in his support of a police recruitment seminar and in his supervision of the Telford Pride event that took place last August.
He has also shown skills in supporting and developing student Police Officers, Community Support Officers and newly appointed Special Constables, including developing training initiatives to support new Special Constables.
DCI Jason Wells, who nominated Sergeant Hylton for the honour said: “The reasons why I decided to put Louis forward speak for themselves. He has provided excellent service for Queen and country and community for a number of years.
“He’s an outstanding police officer and I know that I and my colleagues are delighted for him.
“It’s fantastic news.”
Before joining the police service Sergeant Hylton served for 15 years in the Royal Artillery, including three tours of duty in Northern Ireland.
