Essex Detectives are recognised at National Awards

A TRAINEE detective has won a national award after securing numerous convictions on the north Essex child sex crime team.

Temporary Detective Constable Rachel Moss (pictured right) was named best new detective in the country at the Police Federation’s National Detective Awards in Lincolnshire.

She spent 18 months on the team and took on a large number of child sexual exploitation cases.

“In spite of difficulties, which sometimes involved re-opening previous investigations, she was able to secure numerous convictions,” said her citation.

DC Moss’s work led to the successful prosecution of a farmer who had groomed and sexually assaulted vulnerable girls he employed, as well as an 11-year sentence for a dangerous offender.

Deputy Chief Constable Matthew Horne said: “This is a wonderful accolade for Rachel at the start of a promising career.

“She has already proved to be a tenacious and diligent investigator who has brought several child abusers to justice.

“Her hard work not only means the victims have been given the chance to be heard but also ensures these people are no longer free to target new victims and ruin more lives.”

Essex officers made up a quarter of the shortlist for the awards. This included Det Sgt Becky Young and DC Alan Lewis, who were nominated for helping to secure the conviction of two teenagers for throwing acid into the face of a 57-year-old man.

PC Paul Gerrish, a field intelligence officer, was also shortlisted in the Smarter Detective category for using his motor trade knowledge to identify offenders.

“Using a variety of techniques, including automatic number plate recognition and other data systems, he has been responsible for uncovering vital links to serious and organised crime, a murder investigation and stolen and cloned vehicles,” his citation said.

“PC Gerrish is also heavily in demand by officers from other forces and crime-fighting agencies; he has the rare skill of being able to identify a cloned vehicle solely from the manufacture and fitting of false plates.”

Chairman Elect Steve Taylor was at the awards and praised all the Essex winners and nominees.