Sussex Police have won an award for excellence for the handling of the Sarah Payne abduction and murder inquiry.
The Association of Public Relations highly commended the force's Press office team in the 2002 national awards.
The awards, sponsored by Group 4 Falck, recognised the work of police Press and public relations officers.
The Sussex entry covered the entire 18-month media operation from the time Sarah went missing from a field in East Preston, Littlehampton, until Roy Whiting was convicted for her murder at Lewes Crown Court.
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