Police chiefs, community stars and Dr Who honoured

A detective who led the investigation into the murder of schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel has been recognised in the New Year Honours list.

Mark Baker, a recently retired detective chief superintendent at Merseyside Police, receives the King's Police Medal while the force's former chief constable, Andy Cooke, is knighted.

Mr Baker, whose team's work resulted in drug dealer Thomas Cashman being jailed for life for shooting nine-year-old Olivia, said receiving the medal was the "greatest honour" of his career.

Dr Who actor Tom Baker, originally from Liverpool, is appointed MBE for services to television, while former Liverpool FC captain Alan Hansen and athletics star Katarina Johnson-Thompson are appointed CBE.

Mr Cooke, who is now His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, rose through the ranks with his home force.

He said: "All I wanted to do in my life was to be a police officer from when I was seven or eight years old and I have been fortunate enough to do that.

"I've loved the life that I've had in policing, and now with the inspectorate, because I've had a great opportunity to make a difference and public service is really important to me."

Mr Cooke added: "It's all a bit of a shock really, it's not something I ever thought would happen when I started in policing in 1985, walking the streets of Farnworth Street and Breck Road and that area."

Also honoured is Terence Crolley, who chairs the board of trustees for Liverpool homelessness charity the Whitechapel Centre.

The 90-year-old, appointed MBE for services to tackling homelessness in Merseyside, said he was "astonished but happy".

He said: "Although I've been given the award personally, this is an award for Whitechapel.

"It is one of the great homelessness charities in Merseyside and it's for the frontline workers really who deserve all the credit."

Meanwhile, Lynne Fairclough, former chairwoman of the Homewatch community safety group, is awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM).

A member of Neighbourhood Watch for nearly 40 years, she also co-ordinates Homewatch schemes across Merseyside.

She told the BBC she was excited but "humbled" to receive the "mind-blowing" honour.

"I'm doing what I want to do to help people feel safer, feel empowered," explained Ms Fairclough. "I don't want people feeling as though they can't go out of their houses."

Elsewhere, paralympic taekwondo gold medallist Amy Truesdale has been appointed CBE for services to athletics, while there is also recognition for foster carers Charles and Dianne Hubbert.

Kathryn Thomson, chief executive of Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust, has also been honoured.

She has been appointed OBE for services to the NHS.

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