THE people of Merseyside are the key to a successful police force, Mr Hogan-Howe believes.

While he is immensely proud of the 7,500-strong workforce he leads, he is under no illusions none of the good work would be possible without the community being willing to put their heads above the parapet.

Mr Hogan-Howe said: “I am really proud of the people I lead.

“We have a workforce of people providing a service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. I am really proud of them and what they keep doing to deliver the service, sometimes in the face of awful situations and negative reactions.

“It is a pretty hard job being out at 4am on a cold, rainy winter morning with someone spitting in your face or trying to hurt you for doing your job.

“Yet my officers do it very well.

“Over the last few years, we have had the lowest number of complaints per police officer in the country, so we are both effective and doing it in the right way. I don’t think we are perfect, but people are doing a difficult job well.

“And the control room staff take 3m phone calls a year while our detectives have to deal with some terrible and gruesome murders.

“It is a very challenging environment.

“The biggest highlight for me is the people I lead and meeting the people in the communities who do their part.

“We have a lot of unsung heroes on Merseyside.

“They just go about their business and don’t ask for or seek the recognition they really deserve for the great work they do.

“And a lot of people take risks to stand up for what is right and make sure we are aware of criminal activity. I am proud that people have the confidence in us that they are willing to take those risks.”