The Operation Brooklyn team from Avon and Somerset Police has won the PFNDF Detective Investigation of the Year Award for exceptional work securing justice for five young children.
Presented at Annual Conference 2026 and sponsored by Quick Mortgages, the award recognises the team’s investigative skill, determination and compassionate support for victims and their families.
The investigation uncovered sexual abuse committed by nursery worker Nathan Bennett against children aged two and three at a nursery in Bristol. He was convicted of 21 sexual offences and sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment.
With no forensic evidence linking Bennett to the offences, no eyewitness testimony and no supporting evidence from his digital devices, detectives faced significant challenges.
The small specialist Child Protection Team painstakingly examined more than 100 hours of footage from 18 CCTV cameras, identifying offending, grooming behaviour and crucial evidence while continuing to manage other high-risk investigations.
Specialist interviewing also helped very young children communicate what had happened to them. Careful assessment, patient rapport building and support enabled a three-year-old child to provide evidence that became crucial to the prosecution.
Throughout the investigation and trial, the team supported five families through devastating circumstances, providing regular updates, reassurance and safeguarding while protecting the children’s identities. They also supported one another through the personal toll of reviewing distressing evidence.
The award recognises Temp DI Lucy Forde, DC Beth Cook, investigator Liz Hall, DS Tracey Champion and DC Seb Heming, alongside everyone who contributed to the operation.
Beyond the convictions, the team shared learning with police forces, Ofsted and safeguarding partners to help strengthen child protection investigations and practices in early years settings.
Congratulations to the Operation Brooklyn team, and thank you to Quick Mortgages for sponsoring both PFNDF Detective award categories.
