Constable Paddy Moore is what younger police officers should aspire to be.

That’s according to Douglas woman Larna Kirkham, who has nominated him for this year’s Community Police Officer of the Year award.

PC Paddy and Michael Griffiths were winners of the Isle of Man Newspapers award in 2018.

Larna said she has grown up with him being a bobby on the beat and said he always stops to chat to her.

She also values the ’great’ advice he has given to her and her mother on fraud scams.

Larna described the charity work that Paddy and Michael do as ’outstanding’.

’He is a really great policeman and person,’ she said.

’Patrick is what younger police should aspire to be: professional and compassionate. I couldn’t list the amount of times I have been out at a concert and Patrick and other police have been there keeping everyone safe, and I have always chatted with him and always felt safe and looked after.’

In 2018, the pair were nominated by Ballakermeen High School head teacher Adrienne Burnett, who said the ’double act’ were valued by staff, students and parents alike.

The Isle of Man Police Youth Cadets nominated the pair to thank them for their support during the two-year scheme.

And PC Paddy was also nominated by Douglas town centre manager Oliver Cheshire.

Speaking at the awards presentation, Chief Constable Gary Roberts said: ’It is difficult to know how to describe the work that Constables Griffiths and Moore do.

’Recently, in the course of a few hours, they saved someone from drowning, did important and valuable work in schools, gave their time to the police youth scheme and carried out visible patrol.

’For many people that would be quite an extraordinary shift - for them it was pretty normal.’

PC Paddy is based in the eastern neighbourhood specialist team at police headquarters. His responsibilities include the Douglas Shopwatch scheme and he is the contact officer for several primary schools in Douglas.

He is also the contact officer for Ballakermeen and St Ninian’s High School, where along with PC Mike and the schools’ senior management they help look after vulnerable students.

He talks in schools on everything from drugs to sexting.

PC Paddy said that himself and PC Mike are still closely linked with the Manx Breast Cancer Support Group and Mannin Cancers. And they are currently taking a part in a sponsored shave to help raise awareness and funds for them.

He thanked Larna for the nomination, saying: ’I thought I had got away with it this year, but it is genuinely humbling to know the public have such a high opinion of you!’

’It’s been my pleasure/ privilege to be of help in her family’s life over the years.’