A POLICE officer from Suffolk is travelling to the other side of the world to pick up a very special award next week.

Lizzie Parry

A POLICE officer from Suffolk is travelling to the other side of the world to pick up a very special award next week.

Detective Chief Inspector Louisa Pepper will head down under, travelling to Darwin in Australia to be given an international award recognizing her leadership skills on Monday.

The Mary-Jo Blahowski Leadership award, to be presented at the International Association of Women Police's annual conference, comes just months after DCI Pepper was awarded a similar accolade nearer to home.

In April she won the British Association for Women in Policing (BAWP)'s leadership award.

She was nominated by her colleagues who recognised her affective leadership style and key roles in running the Southern area CID after the murder of five women in Ipswich and overseeing the high profile Operation Academy, targeting drug dealing in the town.

DCI Pepper, the first Suffolk officer to be nominated and win such an award, said: “I was extremely surprised to win a national award, but to win an international award is quite overwhelming.

“I always aim to do my best - teamwork and a willingness to learn, I think, is key to success.

“To be recognised for my leadership style is fantastic and I am delighted to be bringing this award back from Australia to Suffolk.”

Her career with the police started with a desire to make a difference and, after working with the Metropolitan Police as a cadet, DCI Pepper joined Suffolk Constabulary in 1991.

She said: “I thought I could make a difference, I felt I had something to offer and still do.”

Colleagues at Suffolk police and other partners, including Ipswich Borough Council and Ipswich Town Football Club, nominated her for the award.