Celebrating the best of policing and public service 

On Thursday 13 August, we came together for our Force Awards, celebrating the exceptional achievements of our officers, staff and members of the public. 

Held at BAWA Healthcare and Leisure in Filton, the event recognised individuals who have gone above and beyond to make a positive difference in their communities, support their colleagues and serve the public with distinction. 

August’s Force Awards were presented by Deputy Chief Constable Jon Reilly, Police and Crime Commissioner Clare Moody, and High Sheriff of Somerset Peter Dixon. 

Among those recognised were Detective Sergeant Lorna Withey and Detective Constable Adele Shallcross, who, alongside their team, received Crown Court Commendations in recognition of their exceptional dedication, expertise and perseverance during two highly complex fraud investigations. 

After securing the conviction of a defendant who had systematically exploited vulnerable victims for personal gain, the team spent a further two years uncovering the full extent of the financial benefit obtained through the offending. 

Through meticulous investigation and close collaboration, the team successfully traced assets and presented compelling evidence to support complex Proceeds of Crime proceedings. Their commitment resulted in a confiscation order totalling £4.1 million, with compensation awarded to victims. 

Lorna described securing the confiscation order as one of the proudest achievements of her career, adding that receiving two commendations on the same day was “a genuine career highlight”. 

Adele said it was through studying complicated spreadsheets that they found that ‘golden nugget of evidence’ which led the Crown Prosecution Service to charge.  

She said: “What we found paved the way for further enquiries which provided evidence of a lot of dishonesty.  

Receiving an award shows that others see the effort you’ve put in to get the result you did.  I’m not one for being the centre of attention but it’s nice that others recognise how good the job was.” 

Police Constable James Higgins also received a Royal Humane Society Award alongside his colleagues and two members of the public for their life-saving actions during a high-risk missing person incident earlier this year. 

Higgins and his team found the missing person in a dangerous location and needing urgent medical assistance. They helped ensure critical treatment was provided as quickly as possible. 

Reflecting on the award, James said: “It’s a real honour to have my efforts recognised, but it also reflects the support, guidance and teamwork of the people I’ve worked alongside.” 

The Force Awards provide a valuable opportunity to acknowledge those who demonstrate outstanding commitment to public service and embody the very best in our communities. 

Deputy Chief Constable Jon Reilly shared at our ceremony:

“The stories behind your awards are simply inspiring. Among them are examples of exceptional, perpetrator-focused investigative work, innovative approaches, dedication to duty and extraordinary acts of courage. 

“It’s with great honour that today we also extend our recognition to remarkable members of the public. They are a testament to the collaborative spirit that binds communities and law enforcement together.”