Commendations were presented to Acting Detective Inspector Steve Haines, Detective Sergeant Nigel McGoldrick and Detective Constable Dave Collett for leading the investigation. Codenamed Operation Phoenix, the operation involved interviewing more than 100 witnesses after a number of arson attacks in the village between November 1999 and June 2000.
In one incident, a mother and her child almost lost their lives when the arsonist started a fire below their flat.
Initial investigations pointed to one suspect, a local youth well known to the community. However, the only evidence available was circumstantial and so the team began to tackle the problem, examining all similar cases since 1997 and leaving no stone unturned.
The suspect was arrested and later charged with 12 offences, including a robbery.
Following swift action by the forensic science service, which matched the suspect's voice to that of a phone call made by a man who called himself the "Beacon Hill Arsonist", the suspect was successfully remanded in custody.
The man later appeared at the Central Criminal Court and on April 20, 2001, was convicted of five arsons and one arson with intent to endanger life in addition to threats to kill. He was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment.
A certificate of appreciation was also presented to Jacquie Keen, chairman of the Haslemere, Godalming and Cranleigh Crime Prevention Panel and of the Haslemere Police and Community Partnership Group.
In recent years, Jacquie has been involved in the development of closed circuit television, local "problem solving" stakeholder groups and community wardens.
She has organised and chaired numerous public consultation meetings and can often be seen manning the crime prevention stand at public events.
Jacquie, a town and borough councillor and a former Haslemere Town Mayor, was made a Member of the British Empire in this year's Queen's Birthday Honours, and attended her investiture in November at Buckingham Palace.
Mariola Boyd, co-ordinator of the Waverley Victim Support Service who, with her team of 18 volunteers, handles 1,000 requests for help a year, and VSS member and former chairman Bob Cozens were also presented with certificates.
The role Pcs Zoe Green and Paula St John played in ensuring the success of a pilot scheme now being implemented across the force, was highlighted at the ceremony.
In May 2001, Surrey police decided to review the way in which minor assaults were handled, and established an assault clinic, aimed at reducing frontline demands on patrol officers, particularly in dealing with the more minor reported assaults and harassment cases.
Commendations were also presented to Adrian Russell and Anthony Hale for the outstanding service they have provided to Waverley officers in their role as crime desk managers, with every crime dealt with in the division passing through their hands at one point or another.
Commitment and dedication to his job earned Waverley's finance and services manager Brian Silver a certificate of commendation.
Mr Silver, who joined the division after five years in the general office at headquarters, was also a Surrey police inspector, retiring in 1988.
Presenting the awards, Temporary Superintendent Neil Boon said: "These are examples of the total dedication of our many volunteers, partners and staff who regularly and selflessly contribute to policing in Waverley and I feel privileged to lead such a dynamic team."
He added: "There is much to be proud of in Waverley. Its strong partnerships and a will to get things done make it a borough to be envied by others."