North Wales Police officers recognised for outstanding contributions to community safety

 

A number of North Wales Police officers have been awarded for their outstanding contributions to community safety.

The central area Priority Crime Team, We Don’t Buy Crime team, Violence Against Women and Girls Tactical Delivery Manager, and a number of other officers and staff picked up awards at the Wales Safer Communities Awards ceremony in Swansea yesterday.

The event, hosted by the Wales Safer Communities Network, was the first to be held to celebrate the work of projects, partnerships and people actively making communities safer across Wales.

Of the fourteen award categories, North Wales Police officers won four, including modern slavery and exploitation; violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence; crime prevention; and offending and justice.

 

Winner of the overall Wales Safer Communities Award, and modern slavery and exploitation category

The central area Priority Crime Team, made up of Insp Richard Sidney, Sgt Kiera Williams, DC Stuart Goldsack, Sgt David Buckley, DC Andrew Etches, Sgt Arron Hughes, PC Michelle Allsup, Sgt Catherine Hampson, PC Sharon Thorogood, Sgt Andrew Symonds-Roberts, PC Dale Cassidy, DC Chris Wynne, DC Hayley Pearson, DC Claire Owen, DC Jennifer Sansom, Anne Marie Fisher and Richard Kelsall won the overall award at the event for their work on Operation Tylluan.

The modern slavery and child criminal exploitation investigation launched after a missing 15-year-old child was arrested in Rhyl having been found in possession of drugs, cash, and a mobile phone.

Officers quickly identified signs and indicators that the child was involved in ‘County Lines’, and also a victim of child criminal exploitation.

In October 2022, ten offenders were convicted, receiving sentences of up to 10 years imprisonment. Seven convictions were secured for human trafficking, and six for conspiracy to supply heroin and cocaine, despite the victim not being involved in the investigation.

The officers were also able to dismantle the County Line and undoubtedly safeguard vulnerable children and adults within North Wales.

It is believed Op Tylluan was the biggest County Lines related human trafficking conspiracy to be successfully prosecuted at a court anywhere in the UK, all without the support of the victim.

 

Offending and justice category

North Wales Police Law enforcement first response and investigation team, PC Eryl Lloyd, DC Sean Harrison, DC Stuart Goldsack and staff officer Anne-Marie Fisher, received the joint first prize for the offending and justice category for their work on Operation Spinel - an investigation into a series of residential burglaries in Conwy and Denbighshire in February.

It encompassed several parallel investigations into burglaries happening across North Wales by an organised group of travelling criminals from Merseyside.

Conspiracy charges were secured against the defendants covering 15 burglaries, which resulted in three offenders admitting the offences, resulting in a total amount of over 20 years in prison.

 

Crime prevention category

The recently launched We Don’t Buy Crime team, represented by Sergeant Sue Carrington, won the crime prevention category for its approach on reducing the benefits of theft, burglary, robbery - and crime to offenders.

The We Don’t Buy Crime initiative sees officers working with forensic marking provider ‘Smart Water’, a highly effective theft deterrent, which enables property to be traced back to victims, and criminals to be traced back to the crime.

 

Violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence category

Inspector Claire McGrady, Violence Against Women and Girls Tactical Delivery Manager, won the violence against women, domestic abuse, and sexual violence category.

It was the second award she has won since September, for the impact her work has had on the streets of Wrexham, in providing a safer environment for women and girls over the past three years, which has led to a marked increase in reported serious sexual offences.

 

North Wales Police Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman said: “Congratulations to all the officers and staff whose hard work was recognised at this year’s inaugural Wales Safer Communities Awards.

“I am immensely proud of all our winners and their exceptional work that has been highlighted as part of these awards, which has undoubtedly contributed to our area becoming a safer place to work, live and visit.

“These accolades highlight their concerted efforts to deliver for our communities on the basics of fighting, reducing, and preventing crime, and providing an excellent service to victims by tackling the issues that really matter to our community, such as violence against women, rural crime and acquisitive crime.

“They each have set many examples of accountability and having a tenacious approach to solving problems.

“The subsequent imprisonment of the prolific offenders at the heart of some of these investigations have also undoubtedly contributed to safer communities across North Wales.

“By working together with partners, we can share strengths, resources and expertise to find innovative and long-term solutions to creating safer neighbourhoods.”

 

 

North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Dunbobbin said: “I would like to congratulate all the officers and staff from North Wales Police who both won and were nominated for awards at this year’s inaugural Wales Safer Communities Network Awards.

“Their success is testament to the dedication to duty, and innovation in the fight against crime, shown at all levels throughout the Force.

“I know that the people of North Wales are all grateful for their hard work and effort to keep us all secure.

“I would also like to thank Wales Safer Communities Network for hosting these awards and for recognising the importance of celebrating the work of projects, partnerships and people who are actively making communities safer across Wales.”

 

A list of all winners can be found on the Wales Safer Communities Newtwork website here - Congratulations to our Award Winners - Wales Safer Communities