A mother of four from Heywood has been awarded ‘Special Officer of the Year’ at the Chief Constable’s Annual Awards for her outstanding voluntary service as a special constable.
Jemma Mallon was honoured at a ceremony held at The Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground in September, for her dedication to addressing youth violence and supporting vulnerable young people in Rochdale.
In just over a year, Jemma has volunteered an impressive 360 hours, more than double the expected commitment, working closely with schools to educate and safeguard local youth.
Through her involvement, she has reached over 100 pupils and staff at 12 schools, delivering vital lessons on crime prevention and helping foster positive community relationships.
A key focus of Jemma’s work has been bridging the gap between schools and the Neighbourhood Policing Team, identifying children at risk and ensuring they receive the support they need.
Her unique perspective as a mother has been instrumental in her approach. She said: “I’ve got four children of my own, two teenagers and two younger boys. I’m able to get on their level by being a mum.”
Jemma’s proactive efforts have led to a noticeable reduction in youth violence. Between August 2023 and August 2024, violence with injury incidents fell by 4.9% in Rochdale, a testament to her impact.Inspired by her father, a former detective constable, Jemma’s dedication to making her community safer has been widely recognised.
Balancing her policing role with being a self-employed network marketer, Jemma continues to be a driving force in protecting Rochdale’s young people.
