A town centre PCSO has been awarded for her dedication to the job.

Caroline Wayland, who joined the force in April 2007, was awarded PCSO of the Year at the first Chief Constable’s Awards Ceremony.

The 48-year-old was commended for dealing with two major incidents and her work to help make the town a safer place.

She started with the rural policing team, covering Eccles, Wouldham and Burham, before moving to the town centre five years ago.

She said: “It was a massive change, I was dealing with very rural, parish council stuff, so it was different coming into Maidstone and dealing with a busy area.”

PCSO Wayland spends her day dealing with shoplifters and beggars, but can also attend calls to car crashes or missing people.

During the ceremony at Mercure Great Danes Hotel, Hollingbourne, the grandmother was commended for her efforts throughout her time in the town.

Last November, she had just arrived at work when a call came in reporting an unconscious man floating in the River Medway.

The Maidstone resident was the first officer at the scene and performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

She said: “I was asked to go out and assess the situation. I could see that a member of the public had already pulled the man from the river, but he was unconscious.

“You don’t really have time to think about what you’re going to do, you just know you have to save the person’s life.”

The next month PCSO Wayland stayed on duty five hours past her finishing time to assist with a rooftop protest in Lower Stone Street.

Speaking about her role, she said: “It’s very diverse, we have the same things we do everyday, but you never know what you will come across or what you will be asked to attend.

“It’s 100% about assisting the community and it’s nice to know people recognise me and feel they can approach me.”

Chief Constable Alan Pughsley said: “The contributions that officers and staff have made are wide-ranging and each person has helped make Kent a safer and better place to live.”