A FORMER police officer who spent 30 years on the frontline has been recognised for her lifetime of achievements.

Cheryl Callow, an inspector until she retired from Essex Police this year, was named a runner-up for the Lifetime Achievement in Policing awards. The 48-year-old was one of 22 officers shortlisted nationally for the award.

Cheryl was born in Southend and is a former pupil of Temple Sutton and Cecil Jones schools. She joined Essex Police in 1978, serving in Basildon and at Westcliff. She was one of the first female officers to join Laindon traffic department before moving to Basildon and then to Pitsea.

In 2003 she was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for founding Nexus, Essex Police’s support group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender officers.

Cheryl said of her latest gong: “I had a wonderful evening at the awards ceremony, it was very humbling.”