New Year's Honour for former Wirral policeman Bill McWilliam (From Wirral Globe)

New Year's Honour for former Wirral policeman Bill McWilliam

8:00am Friday 1st January 2010

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A POLICEMAN who once served in Wirral has been awarded a CBE in the Queen's New Year’s Honours list.

Superintendent Bill McWilliam has been with the force for 20 years. He spent 18 months working in Wirral and is now based in Liverpool.

Reflecting on his CBE he said: "It is a huge honour to have to received this award and to have been nominated in the first place.

"It is a reflection not only of the work I have done, but the efforts and support of my wife, my family and all of my colleagues at Merseyside Police."

He started his policing career in the Metropolitan Police and transferred to Merseyside in 1997. He has experience in a wide range of roles both as a uniformed officer and detective.

Following his time as senior investigating officer on Wirral he spent 18 months on secondment with Government Office North West exploring best practice in dealing with gun and gang crime in the North West, West Midlands and London.

He also went to Los Angeles with senior police officers and representatives from the Home Office and other partner agencies to examine different approaches to gang culture and invest in long-term solutions.

On his arrival at Liverpool North Superintendent McWilliam created an initiative to support young people putting themselves at risk of harm through their behaviour, or association with criminals.

Operation StaySafe brought Children’s Services, the Youth Offending Service and the Police together to protect young people and challenge inadequate parenting.

The initiative has been nationally recognised and rolled out to forces across England and Wales.

Supt McWilliam said: "I believe that the award today recognises my work in developing the Staysafe initiative which is designed to provide an holistic approach to tackling gun and gang crime and anti social behaviour.

"This initiative recognises that in order to break the cycle of criminality we need to invest in a comprehensive programme of education and support services involving key partner agencies and parents.

"I firmly believe that the overwhelming majority of our young people should not be demonised because of a misguided minority and I am delighted to have seen the programme rolled out nationally."

Acting Chief Constable Bernard Lawson, said: "Superintendent McWilliam is an outstanding officer of considerable experience who has worked tirelessly to make Merseyside a safe place. The award today follows the development of the Staysafe initiative in 2007 by Superintendent McWilliam, which has been recognised nationally and rolled out to other forces across the country.

"I am delighted for Bill and his family that his achievements have been recognised and he couldn't have hoped for a better start to 2010."

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