A POLICE officer who has led on a ground-breaking partnership to tackle antisocial behaviour (ASB) in Eastbourne has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal.

PC Virginia “Ginny” Jupp, 60, joined Sussex Police in 1995 and for the past 14 years has been the ASB officer for Eastbourne district.

Ginny said: “I’m absolutely amazed and shocked, but so proud to be given such an honour.

“This job means so much to me – I even applied for a three-year extension when I was coming up to retirement and I just love it.

“My dad was a traffic warden for Sussex Police and if he and my mum were still alive today, bless them, they’d be jumping up and down with joy.”

Chief Constable Giles York said: “I join all of my colleagues at Sussex Police in extending our congratulations to Ginny.

“It recognises the enormous personal commitment that Ginny has put in to her role and her expertise in legislative changes and approaches.

“She is passionate about making the lives of victims better but is equally passionate about diverting perpetrators and those at risk of becoming perpetrators.

“She does not default to a criminal justice solution and has worked with perpetrators personally and with voluntary agencies finding them suitable activities and training to give them a purpose and changing their lives.”