A STOURPORT-based police officer has been shortlisted in a national competition to find Britain's top public servants.

PC Jon Harris, the town's beat manager, is one of three finalists in the Raising the Standard category of the Public Servants of the Year Awards 2006. He has made the final three from an original entry of 152 nominees.

Winners of the awards will be announced during a ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel next month.

PC Harris will be up against a Lancashire youth worker and West Sussex benefits adviser in his category.

He could also be in the running for the Outstanding Public Servant of the Year 2006 title.

Among PC Harris's initiatives that earned his nomination was the establishment of the Sandy Lane Business Association, which helped reduce crime by 60 per cent on the estate.

He also set up the TRAPT project at Stourport High School, involving 12 disaffected pupils facing permanent exclusion in working with media professionals. They produced a film and website exploring issues that lead to 15 year olds offending.

Setting up the Community Action Newtown project also helped achieve a reduction of just over 40 per cent in crime, through activities like pupil litter picks and criminal role playing.

PC Harris said: "I feel honoured to be considered for this award.

"If the work I have done over the past years has changed the attitudes of young offenders towards crime for the better, then all my hard work has paid off."