POLICE have honoured three Kirklees Rangers.

The Rangers, who work in local town centres and communities, have each received Divisional Commander’s Commendations in recognition of vital work in the area.

Mel Wrigley, Fatih Uddin and Monica Simpson are Community Rangers working for Kirklees Streetscene and Housing.

Mel Wrigley has been awarded a Divisional Commanders Commendation for her role in ensuring the safety and response to two very young children she found wandering in Ravensthorpe.

The weather was cold and wet when she found the children and the youngsters were inappropriately dressed for the conditions.

Both had wandered away from their home and had been reported as missing.

The emergency services had initiated a response to the report of the missing children and had also deployed the West Yorkshire Police helicopter to try and track down the children.

Mel spotted the children and kept them warm and safe until the police arrived.

She also accompanied the children when the police took them back to their parents.

Police said Mel’s actions and presence ensured that the children were reunited with their parents as soon as possible and avoided a potentially awful outcome.

Monica Simpson and Fatih Uddin have been awarded a Divisional Commanders Commendation for their roles in gathering appropriate evidence to support the initiative to deter street drinking around the St Peter’s Gardens area of Huddersfield.

The work also included the consistent monitoring of the area and attendance at court hearings, giving evidence to support the issuing of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders.

Clr Peter McBride, Kirklees Cabinet member for Streetscene, said: “The community rangers do a very important job.

“This is illustrated by the actions which led to Mel, Monica and Fatih receiving police commendations.

“They are a credit to their team.”

There are 13 staff currently working as Kirklees Rangers.

They help local residents and visitors and also report on litter problems and anti-social behaviour.

The Rangers currently work in Netherton, Newsome, Crosland Moor, Almondbury, Dalton, Birkby, Fartown, Huddersfield town centre, Dewsbury town centre, Cleckheaton town centre, Heckmondwike, Fieldhead, west Dewsbury and Dewsbury Moor.