MBE for Fordingbridge woman

Chief inspector Karen Scipio, 44, who went to school in Ringwood, now works for Hampshire Constabulary in Southampton.

She has made a great contribution to developing and improving links with black and ethnic minority communities in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and is a founding member and chairman of the Force's Hampshire Black Police Association representative group.

Hampshire Constabulary's chief constable, Paul Kernaghan, said: "She has worked tirelessly to promote the force as an employer of choice.

"I know that, on a one-to-one basis, she has provided a great deal of support to officers facing acute professional pressures, and she is highly rated by them.

"Karen is a great ambassador for the force and a role model."

She was also a founder member of the constabulary's Gender Agenda working party, which raises awareness of women's issues and was involved in recruiting women and members of black, minority and ethnic groups to the Force Support Unit.

"I have a real passion for equality and fairness, which probably comes from having a black father and a white mother," she said.

"This level of recognition shows that equality and fairness are not just tick-box issues. They are real concerns, and I am grateful to the numerous individuals in this force who have supported me.

"I suppose my ultimate goal is to do myself out of a job."

Chief Insp Scipio left school at 16 to work in the New Forest and abroad as a groom, barmaid and nanny.

She joined Hampshire Constabulary in 1987 after several friends, who were police officers, suggested it.

She then served at Newport on the Isle of Wight, Southampton and the New Forest as a police constable and she was promoted to sergeant at New Milton.

She then spent two years on a call management project to introduce the 0845 045 45 45 telephone number for Hampshire Constabulary.

In 2001 she moved to Eastleigh as an inspector and was promoted to chief inspector at Southampton Central in 2005.