The Police Federation has paid tribute to Detective Constable Steve Ford - a popular member of the Leicestershire force, who died on 2 April.

DC Ford, 58, worked at Wigston within the modern slavery investigation team and leaves behind a wife and children. He died at Leicester General Hospital after being admitted a few days before. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

Dave Stokes, Chairman of Leicestershire Police Federation, said: "This is a complete tragedy. The thoughts of all Leicestershire Police officers and the police family across the UK are with Steve’s wife and children, his family, friends and close colleagues at this awful time."

Paying tribute, he added: "Steve was a real dedicated family man. He had been a police officer for more than 20 years and was a tenacious, career detective who was renowned for never letting a case go. He just wouldn’t stop and was always truly determined to achieve justice for victims.

"His colleagues and I are completely devastated by the news. Steve was just a really, really popular police officer – no one would have ever had a bad word to say about him.”

John Apter, National Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, commented: "This is desperately sad news from Leicestershire Police. Our thoughts are with Steve’s family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time."

Leicestershire's Chief Constable, Simon Cole said Steve was "a talented officer who lived by the values we hold so tightly in this Force. It is a loss and a shock to us all." He added that the force will continue to honour Steve "through our determination and service to protect others from harm”.

Leicestershire Federation is continuing to support Steve's colleagues who, despite mourning the loss of one of their own, are continuing to police at this unprecedented time. They are also supporting Steve’s wife and children and asked that the family's privacy is respected.