THE search has begun to find Poole’s community safety heroes.

The Safer Poole Partnership has launched its annual appeal to residents to nominate someone they know for the John Jay Shield.

This award is presented every autumn to the individual or group judged to have contributed the most to improving community safety in the town over the previous year.

Last year’s winner, Mark Phillips, was awarded his for his work for Footprints Project, Borough of Poole Chaplaincy and Parkstone United Reformed Church, as well as the support he offers to domestic abuse victims, ex-offenders and Poole Foodbank.

To be considered for the award, nominees must have contributed to making Poole a safer place, building a supportive community, improving the lives of people at risk of offending or reoffending, supporting victims of crime or helping prevent or detect crimes between April 2013 and March 2014.

They can be a volunteer or someone employed to work in the community, provided they have gone above and beyond what is expected of them. The deadline for nominations is Friday, October 10.

“We believe there are lots of people out there quietly doing fantastic work behind the scenes that people just aren’t getting to see, and at the same time they are helping us to feel safe and are keeping us safe,” said Cllr Elaine Atkinson, leader of Borough of Poole and chair of the Safer Poole Partnership Board.

“No matter how big or small someone’s contribution, we want to know about it because it makes such a difference to people’s lives.

“I look forward to seeing some fantastic nominations for 2014 because I’m sure there’s some superb and exemplary work going on out there,” she added.

For more information about the awards and to nominate someone online visit poolepartnership.info/johnjayshield