Detective speaks about his role in keeping children safe from exploitation

Detective Constable Gavin Jones first joined the police as a Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) in 2005.

After 12 years in the role he wanted a new challenge, and in 2017 became a police officer.

He said: “After serving as a CSI, I felt it was a natural progression to seek a career as a detective.

“I enjoy piecing together clues and analysing evidence to find solutions. I have a strong desire to solve crime and bring perpetrators to justice and ultimately to make a positive difference in people’s lives.”

In 2020, Gavin became a detective and moved his focus to tackling child exploitation, with his dedication to the role recently winning an award.

He received North Wales Police Investigator of the Year following an investigation into a group of five vulnerable teenagers who were regularly missing and committing low level offences towards the end of 2021.

Gavin said: “We discovered that they were being targeted by Stephen Anthony Thomas, who supplied them with drugs and alcohol before exploiting them.

“I worked closely with partner agencies to support and safeguard the children at the same time as investigating Thomas’ crimes.”

The victims of the case didn’t initially want to engage with the police, but DC Jones worked to build trust with the young group and reassure them that the police would help them.

Gavin continued: “They had previously been treated as suspects for minor offences which had broken down any trust.

“I worked tirelessly to gain that trust back, and once I was able to speak with them about what had happened, in time, they acknowledged they were victims.

“Their bravery in supporting the investigation resulted in Thomas being jailed for his crimes.”

Stephen Anthony Thomas was jailed for six and a half years in October 2024.

Thinking about his career so far, Gavin said: “The job is challenging but rewarding.

“There is so much personal and professional development available. You can work on something different most days and there are so many different jobs in the force.

“The career opportunities are fantastic and if you become a detective, more doors will open up for you.”

North Wales Police are looking for people who reflect the communities we serve, who can bring diverse experiences and who are willing to protect those who need it most. If you have what it takes to make a difference, register your interest to become a police officer now on our website.