But, this year they are back with a difference, and now they are calling on you to nominate your local hero.

New categories have been developed to recognise, local heroes, good deed of the year from within our communities and also the best joint initiative/partnership of the year.

This is a shift from the previous awards which seen local officers nominated by their peers and supervisors — now even members of the community can be recognised if they are nominated.

Inspector Jane Harley, of Paisley Police Office, has been tasked with sorting through the nominations. She explained the process.

He said: “What we are looking for is members of the public to come forward and nominate someone they feel has helped within the community over the past year, be that a local hero, or someone who has carried a good deed for the good of others.

“This person could be of any age, young and old, all nominations are welcome. All they have to have done is something of the benefit of the community. These kind of people deserved to be recognised for the work they do and in this line of work we see people who are standing up for their community on a daily basis.

“We see this in all matter of ways. This includes witnesses who are brave enough to talk out and give the police information, people who show enough courage to intervene in a situation that may put them in danger, as well as those who work away quietly for what they believe is right.” The awards will be presented by Wayne Mawson, assistant chief constable, and Alan Speirs, chief superintendent for Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, at a ceremony on December 2.

Speirs added: “It is a great opportunity to bring people together and collectively recognise the outstanding contributions and work that goes on within our community.

The nomination process is now under way and you can send all nominations for the three categories, local heroes, good deed of the year from within our communities and also the best joint initiative/partnership of the year to Inspector Jane Harley, Paisley Police Office, Mill Street, Paisley, PA1 1JU.