DURHAM Constabulary's top probationer of the year award is this year being shared by two officers.

And yesterday, at a ceremony, PCs Gary Davison and Brian Dawson, both based at Peterlee, were presented with their citations by the chairwoman of Durham Police Authority, Councillor Anne Wright.

Both men are in their 30s and had been pursuing other careers before joining the police service.

PC Davison was appointed in May last year.

His 90-plus arrests include those of several burglars and a robber from Horden, who later received a seven-year jail term.

PC Davison, 37, has also maintained a high standard of crime intelligence submissions and planned a police operation to arrest a local drug dealer.

Brian, 34, made a similar impression after joining the force two years ago. He had previously served in the Army and worked at the Nissan factory in Washington.

He has kept up a high work rate throughout his probationary period and arrested some of the most active criminals in his area. His citation also remarked on his sensitive handling of an attempted rape and his role in a challenging public order incident.

"Both officers are a credit to themselves and Durham Constabulary. They have performed to the highest possible standard,'' said Superintendent Carole Thompson.