A manager for Kent police’s call centre has been named as the UK’s emergency services contact centre manager of the year.

Louise Delamare-Timms fought off fierce competition from more than 100 other ambulance, police and fire services across the country to win the annual prize from the Call Centre Management Association, in the first year that emergency services call centres were included in the awards.

She heads the Kent Police Force Communications Centre, which has more than 530 police staff employees and uniformed officers, and handles switchboard response, 999 call handling, initial crime recording and investigation, radio dispatch of police patrols, email and multi-agency coordination.

Kent’s Assistant Chief Constable Steve Harris said: “Louise has helped shape Kent Police's Force Communication Centre into an award winning service provider.

“Her dedication to the force and the continuous commitment to her team are also reflected in this award. The specialist work carried out by those within the centre is vital to ensure Kent Police is able to honour its commitment to policing in Kent.”

Louise impressed the judges with the way she lead, influenced and shaped innovations and improvements in her call centre, positively managed attendance and introduced a range of quality initiatives.

Louise said: “I was thrilled to be short-listed and even more so to have won the award, especially as the category was across all emergency service providers - fire, police, ambulance and coast guard.

“I am fortunate enough to work for a force that has invested in call management and recognises the importance of this element of our business. I have a wonderful team who work with me and am extremely proud to have received this award.”