Police staff member given honour for her work to prevent child exploitation
Androulla Nicolaou, known as Andri, has worked as a Child Exploitation Prevention Officer and Co-ordinator, for the past eight years
A member of staff, at Avon and Somerset Police, has been awarded an honorary British Empire Medal (BEM), for her services to the prevention of child exploitation.
Androulla Nicolaou, known as Andri, who has worked as a Child Exploitation Prevention Officer and Co-ordinator, for the past eight years, said she feels “shocked and amazed’ by the honour.
Andri has delivered exploitation awareness sessions to more than 21,000 schoolchildren, parents, carers and professionals in a year. The sessions cover child criminal exploitation, child sexual exploitation and child sexual abuse, including raising awareness around trafficking, county lines drug-dealing, violence against women and girls (VAWG), knife crime and online safety.
Her role helps police to build stronger relationships with schools, children’s homes, religious communities, GP surgeries, community groups and businesses, including hotels, taxis and nightclubs.
Andri, who joined Avon and Somerset Police in 2004, after moving from Cyprus in 2003, was the driving force behind a pioneering child exploitation day, for more than 70 boys, as well as a child exploitation and violence awareness conference, attended by more than 70 girls, both held at Police Headquarters in Portishead. Both have been recognised nationally as good practice and her prevention work has been recognised in the most recent national child protection inspection, carried out by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS).
She also delivers exploitation awareness sessions, to all new officers and PCSOs and her work directly supports officers, in the proactive disruption of offenders.
Andri said: “I never expected this. It’s amazing that someone thought to nominate me – I am beyond honoured.
“I hope it will help shine a light on the work I do and raise awareness of exploitation and how to keep our children safe. My over-riding commitment is to help young people and be there for them.
“My biggest concern is around the online world – it can be so secretive and grooming can happen rapidly. It’s a devastating crime, which can lead to exploitation, both online and offline, as well as other crimes against children.
“The awareness sessions are really important, as we need to equip children with knowledge, to keep them safe and help them to spot the early warning signs of exploitation. It’s about making children feel empowered, to raise any concerns they have and to know there is always help available, should they need it.”
Chief Constable, Sarah Crew, said: “Andri is wholly committed to improving the safety of young people at risk of exploitation and she has shown remarkable dedication, relatability and enthusiasm, in this vital role.
“She has strengthened relationships with our safeguarding partners and has an unwavering ability to build positive relationships with young people, many of whom may not otherwise have trust and confidence in the police. She has a fearless approach, epitomised by one of her initiatives, to set-up a pop-up engagement stall, in an area of suspected drug-dealing in Bristol.
“I have no doubt young people have made informed choices and are better able to identify the signs of unsafe or criminal behaviours, as a direct result of Andri’s work. We’re very proud of all she has achieved.”