The Thames Valley Police chief constable has commended four officers for preventing serious violence with a proactive operation in Milton Keynes and the subsequent investigation.
Chief Constable Jason Hogg presented Sergeants Thomas Neilson and Chris Smith, PC Joseph Swan and Detective Constable Serena Bellis with commendations at a ceremony at our base in Sulhamstead on 28 November.
Following a robbery, the neighbourhood policing officers located and stopped a car with armed males inside, including one concealing a firearm and ammunition, before DC Bellis’ work secured a swift conviction and prison sentence.
Sgt Neilson said: “To remove a viable firearm from the street and prevent this offender from committing an act of serious violence and keeping our communities safe is testament to neighbourhood police officers knowing their area and a proactive approach to problem solving.
“The subsequent investigation from DC Bellis and securing a custodial sentence so quickly is another fantastic example of the work our CID colleagues undertake.”
On 20 November last year, officers from the South Milton Keynes Neighbourhood Policing Team dedicated a late turn shift to conduct both visible and non-visible patrols in the Westcroft estate following a violent robbery involving weapons earlier that day.
The suspects had been seen to attend the area in two small silver vehicles and were armed with knives and machetes.
To assist with the disruption, PC Swan was deployed in a plain vehicle while Sgt Neilson and PC Smith were in a marked police car. These officers had knowledge of the area and would go to locations with the best vantage points to see people coming in and out of the estate.
PC Swan spotted two small silver vehicles both containing four-to-five males driving slowly and occasionally stopping on Cranbourne Avenue, raising his suspicions.
Sgts Neilson and Smith got behind one of them and pulled it over before searching it and the four occupants, which revealed two knives and a quantity of cannabis.
The officers arrested the occupants and took them to custody, where one was later found to be in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
DC Bellis, from Milton Keynes CID, then took over the investigation and due to her tenacity, diligence and detailed case; the offender with the firearm was charged and remanded in custody. Just over two months later, the offender pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and ammunition and was jailed for five years.
Sgt Smith said: “I am incredibly proud to receive this award on behalf of the South Milton Keynes Neighbourhood Policing team.
“It is through the team’s dedication to serving our communities and keeping our streets safe that results like this are possible.”
PC Swan added: “I feel privileged to be recognised for good operational policing; it isn't every day that you recover a firearm off the streets!”
For more information about other award winners at the ceremony, visit this site.
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