Detective awards: nominate now
15 June 2026
Officers are being urged to consider nominating colleagues for this year’s national detectives’ awards.
The awards, which are organised annually by the Police Federation National Detectives’ Forum (PFNDF), will recognise the Detective of the Year and the Investigation of the Year.
Nominations close on 31 July 2026 with the winners then being announced at the Federation’s national conference which is being held in London in October.
Pressure
Jon Nott, West Midlands Police Federation’s equality and personnel co-lead, is deputy chair of the PFNDF, and wants to see Force detectives put forward for recognition.
“I know that we have fantastic officers across the Force who are undertaking some great investigative work,” says Jon, “Before taking up a full-time position with the Federation, I was a detective myself so I understand the pressure they are under.
“I would love to see West Midlands detectives recognised with an award so I would urge officers to consider nominating their colleagues. Day in, day out, our detectives are involved in complex enquiries, painstakingly pursuing leads and relentlessly seeking justice for victims of crime. No police officer goes to work seeking an award for their efforts but, all the same, it is important that we do acknowledge those who give so much of themselves to ensure criminals face the consequences of their actions.”
Joint winners
Last year, there were two joint winners of the Detective Investigation of the Year Award - Dorset Police Major Crime Investigations Team (MCIT) and West Yorkshire Police Homicide Team.
The Dorset team were recognised for Operation Lion, which involved the fatal stabbing of Amie Gray and the attempted murder of Leanne Miles on Bournemouth beach in May 2024, while West Yorkshire detectives were honoured for Operation Geneva, an almost 20-year pursuit of justice in the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky during the 2005 Universal Express robbery in Bradford.
The individual Detective of the Year Award was also shared. It was awarded to DC Jayne Jones of the Metropolitan Police for her outstanding work in the child abuse investigation unit and a detective from Greater Manchester Police involved in a complex, historic child abuse case.
Seminar
The Detectives’ Forum aims to support and progress the work of detectives throughout England and Wales. Its chair, Ben Hudson, is leading the Simplify DG6 Campaign and the forum itself meets several times a year to discuss the issues affecting detectives across England and Wales.
On 16 July, it will stage its next virtual seminar – details of which will be announced soon.
To find out more about the PFNDF Detectives’ Awards and obtain a nomination form, please contact Jon Nott.
