A Thames Valley Police staff member has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to policing and the community.

Jennifer Lamboll, a contact management police staff supervisor, has been recognised in the King's New Year Honours List.

Having served more than 34 years with Thames Valley Police, Ms Lamboll has balanced her role with responsibilities as a special constable and raising two young children with her detective husband.

Her current position involves ensuring call handling consistency through quality and data audit work in contact management.

She said: "Receiving the British Empire Medal has been an incredible shock, and it’s taken some time to truly process it all.

"I have read my letter from the cabinet office over 30 times, I feel deeply honoured and humbled by this recognition, which I never expected.

“I went to St James’ Palace when I achieved my Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, so now I’m very much looking forward to going to Buckingham Palace - I just like helping people.”

Ms Lamboll has also been key in recruitment for contact management, hosting awareness sessions and conducting room visits for prospective call handlers, which led to an increase in applications to the force.

She has shown an "unwavering dedication to fairness, equality, and diversity," a Thames Valley Police spokesperson said, and was a key figure in establishing the Thames Valley Police Black Police Association in 1999.

She has also contributed to the Support Association for Minority Ethnic Staff.

Ms Lamboll served as a special constable for more than 22 years, during which time she frequently visited schools, supported night-time economy operations, and took part in proactive efforts to curb vehicle crime.

For 10 years, she was a key part of the police cadet programme, organising and leading activities and providing guidance to teenagers looking to join the police force.

Her community work has also involved more than four years with the Royal Observer Corps, a civil defence organisation, as a leading observer.

Alongside her policing duties, Ms Lamboll has taken part in various charity fundraisers, including abseiling off the John Radcliffe Women's Centre and the Oxford Carfax Tower, and taking part in a parachute jump.

Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, Jason Hogg, said: "I am proud that Jennifer has been recognised with this honour, acknowledging her 34 years of dedicated service to Thames Valley Police.

"Throughout her career, she has shown extraordinary commitment to supporting the force and its communities.

"I want to thank her for her dedication and hard work. Jennifer is a true inspiration to us all and thoroughly deserves this recognition."