A night to celebrate great policing in Hertfordshire

A night of celebration was held this week to recognise all that is great about policing in Hertfordshire.

Officers, staff and volunteers came together with Chief Constable Charlie Hall, his leadership team and local dignitaries for his annual awards on Wednesday (6 November)

Addressing the audience on the night, Chief Constable Charlie Hall said: “These awards are a really special event and to some extent a bit emotional for me tonight as this is going to be my last annual awards before I retire at the end of the year.

“This evening is absolutely the highlight of the constabulary year and it is our opportunity to thank so many of you for what you do day in, day out.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Jonathan Ash-Edwards, who was attending his first annual awards with the constabulary, added: “The absolute highlight of my first few months in office has been seeing and learning about what you do protecting the public and keeping Hertfordshire a safe county. I know you do that work in an increasingly unforgiving environment and media lens.

“This evening I’m really looking forward to hearing more about all that you have been doing. From myself and on behalf of the communities of Hertfordshire I want to say thank you for all that you do.”

The event was held at Tewinbury Farm Hotel in Welwyn with volunteer police cadets welcoming finalists and their loved ones.

Among the winners were: 

Investigator of the Year:

Detective Inspector Justine Jenkins from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Major Crime Unit.

Detective Inspector Justine Jenkins is regarded as one of the finest senior investigating officers across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire and beyond. In the past decade on the Major Crime Unit (MCU) she has led more than 40 murder investigations as well as many serious and complex crime investigations.

This year she has led many noteworthy investigations to a positive judicial conclusion and earned the gratitude of the victims and their families along the way.

Tenacious and hardworking, one of Justine’s notable investigations this year was Op Reactivate. This relates to the horrific sexual assaults of teenage girls 20 years ago in Harpenden. Over the previous 10 years she had regularly reviewed the evidence hoping that forensic advances would provide DNA opportunities. When the breakthrough happened, a suspect was identified. He was subsequently convicted of numerous offences against two now adult women. Op Reactive was showcased in a BBC documentary series and more than two million viewers tuned in to see Justine and her team bring a predatory offender to justice.

Op Telomer involved the kidnap of a Chinese national by a Chinese organised crime group (OCG) in Welwyn Garden City. Justine’s investigation identified high level criminality involving millions of pounds in cash, property, vehicles and illegal foreign nationals. The victim was kept in a cage, tortured and was close to handing over £10 million when an early arrest potentially saved his life. One man was convicted and a further six fled the country and are no longer able to commit crime in the UK.

Op Shant was the investigation into the murder of a woman whose body was found near Baldock. Identification was an initial challenge but once known, Justine and the team quickly built up a hypothesis that the victim had been murdered by a man who she knew through work. An offender was convicted and jailed for 20 years.

Neighbourhood Policing Officer of the Year:

PC Fiona Hitchcock from the St Albans Neighbourhood Policing Team

PC Fiona Hitchcock was nominated for her hard work and proactivity in finding solutions to local issues, as well as building excellent relationships with two local mental health inpatient units in the area.

As the dedicated Police Liaison Officer for both Kingsley Green and Albany Lodge, both of which oversee formal and informal patients with mental health difficulties, Fiona carries out frequent in-person visits to build rapport with staff members and patients.

Fiona’s excellent work ethic is epitomised through her involvement in attending virtual meetings with staff at Kingsley Green on her days off, as well as gathering feedback from both units on how to improve joint working relationships and work practices.

In addition to this she is actively involved in any investigations that are recorded there as well as managing investigations in both her wards, London Colney and Colney Health.

In her role as a Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) PC, she diligently works with partner agencies to improve the lives of her community including managing and resolving on-going neighbour disputes.

Taking a problem-solving approach, Fiona has been pro-active in organising local plain clothes operations to tackle shoplifting at Colney Fields Shopping Park and has arranged meetings with the businesses there to provide target-hardening advice and to give guidance on improving crime recording practices.

Fiona listens to the concerns of the community through feedback received from Echo and Herts Connected and ensures they are acted upon. She has carried out a number of vehicle operations, involving targeting those speeding and exceeding the weight restrictions in Colney Health.

The breadth of her work also sees Fiona engage with local early years providers, such as nurseries and primary schools and carry out numerous visits to introduce the Mini Police Scheme this academic year.

Response Officer of the Year:

PC Esa Kar from the Hatfield Intervention Team.

PC Esa Kar is a committed and inspiring Intervention officer. Even in the face of professional adversity he has an infectious positivity and is well known for offering support to colleagues as they deal with operational pressures.

In the last year alone, Esa saved a man’s life following a road traffic collision. He bravely entered a damaged and smoking vehicle and opened the airway of the unconscious driver. Esa’s efforts led to him being presented with a Royal Humane Society Award.

In July this year, he received further recognition as our local finalist for the NPCC Response Officer of the Year award.

He has also supported police colleagues in London through mutual aid during a period of intense protest activity and was first through the door to detain a violent suspect who had threatened his colleague with a weapon.

On another occasion, he tended to a critically ill stab victim and completed ‘golden hour’ enquiries to ensure that justice was served. He is a compassionate initial contact officer for sexual offences and strives for positive outcomes for vulnerable victims.

As a tutor officer, Esa guides our new starters through an often turbulent and distressing environment, instilling high standards and flagging good work to supervisors.

Esa routinely goes above and beyond to support and inspire others through his role as the national lead for the Hertfordshire Black and Asian Police Association, encouraging those from under-represented backgrounds to flourish, acting as a trailblazer for those who aspire to a career in policing.