
An Eden-based police officer who always goes the extra mile to find solutions to community issues and protect the vulnerable has received the Neighbourhood Policing Award at the Cumbria Police Federation 2025 Recognition Awards.
Acting Sergeant Phil Hall is based in the Eden District, which includes Penrith and its neighbouring towns and villages.
“He is known for being an enthusiastic and determined officer who works effectively with partners and communities to tackle criminality and protect vulnerable people,” said an awards spokesman.
Over the course of 12 months, A/Sgt Hall worked with legal services on over 30 anti-social behaviour injunction breaches from four of Eden’s most prolific offenders.
He prepared multiple cases for court, which helped secure a custodial sentence for one of the offenders – the first one to be issued within Cumbria.
A/Sgt Hall has also worked with the Cumbria Road Safety Partnership to adopt a community plan to manage local speeding complaints. Another success was his hard work to embed resettled communities within Eden, working with partners to produce guides on English law, contacts, and support activities.
His focus on victims was evident during a community reassurance visit following a burglary in Stainton. A blind resident was feeling vulnerable, unsure whether police officers were who they said they were. So A/Sgt Hall worked with the force to get braille branded on to warrant cards, an initiative that will soon be rolled out. He also wrote a Visual Impairment Protocol that was sent to chief officers.
A/Sgt Hall has recently used Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act civil orders to close two premises that were causing nuisance and disorder. The closure orders were the first across the Westmorland and Furness Local Authority area.
A/Sgt Hall said: “I’m really passionate about community policing. It’s not a glamorous job, but you are doing the stuff that matters to the public. The disputes, the ongoing issues, the drug dealing.
“The stuff that actually hurts the heart of the community. That’s what I enjoy getting to grips with – solving problems for people, working with partners and getting to meet the community.”
He said he was pleased but surprised to win a Federation Award, and that it just came out of the blue.
Cumbria Police Federation chair Ed Russell said: “Phil works brilliantly with our partners and communities to solve the problems that really matter to them.
“His determination to bring the antisocial behaviour injunction breaches to court gave victims and communities confidence in our robust policing approach, and he’s always going that step further to make improvements to working practices. He’s a worthy winner of this award.”