Thames Valley Chief Constable Peter Neyroud has become the first officer outside the USA to be awarded an international award for leadership and dedication to policing.

The Police Executive Research Forum, based in Washington DC, announced Mr Neyroud as co-winner of the Gary P Hayes Memorial Award.

The accolade is given to police leaders who are innovators, dedicated to their communities, and who have demonstrated sensitivity in the way they handle community policing.

Mr Neyroud said: "I am thrilled and honoured - with all the messages about US lessons for UK policing, it is a double privilege to be recognised by American colleagues, for whom I have the highest professional regard."

Deputy Chief Constable Sara Thornton, who nominated Mr Neyroud, said: "Peter has been an officer for 24 years and in that time he has established the highest of reputations for leadership and innovation.

"He has championed the need to modernise policing, the importance of human rights and the involvement of communities in their policing."

The award was announced at a ceremony in San Antonio, Texas, and was shared with Chief Theron Bowman of Arlington Police, Texas. Mr Neyroud was unable to attend.

The forum's president, William Bratton, Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department, said: "Chief Bowman and Chief Neyroud share a dedication to and understanding of the policing professionalism that epitomises what the Gary Hayes Award represents. "Their professionalism and resolve in serving their communities have helped them tackle some of the toughest policing issues."

Mr Neyroud, at 44 one of the youngest chief constables in the country, was appointed to Thames Valley Police, one of the largest non-Metropolitan forces in England and Wales, in February 2002.

He is of dual British and Swiss nationality, and is married with four children. Chris Fox, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said: "Peter combines the experience of operational and professional policing with an academic and inquiring mind.

"In doing so, his innovative ideas have been a catalyst for change in professional policing."

Mr Neyroud's other appointments including being a member of the Sentencing Guidelines Council, a council member of the human rights organisation Justice, and a member of the Institute for Public Policy Research Criminal Justice Forum.

He is co-author of a study entitled Policing, Ethics and Human Rights.

In January, he was also awarded the Queen's Police Medal.