Roads Policing award winner announced
20 January 2012
West Midlands’ officer scoops roads policing award
An officer from West Midlands has tonight received the national award for outstanding contribution to roads policing, organised by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
The officer received the award, which is the first of its kind, at the National Roads Policing Conference yesterday in Hinckley, Leicestershire.
Winner D Sgt Ian Orton has achieved outstanding results during his five year tenure with the Central Motorway Policing Group (CMPG), particularly in the area of major crime and disorder.
He has been instrumental in developing critical analysis of ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) technology and other vehicle profiling products, which is now being considered as standard practice in all areas of major crime investigation.
Using his expertise, Ian has provided telecoms analysis and intelligence to numerous fatal road traffic collisions leading to the identification of offenders, one of which was a double fatal collision involving a professional football player, attracting national interest. Due to Ian’s assistance the offender was convicted and received a lengthy custodial sentence.
He has identified offenders from an armed robbery via convoy analysis who were arrested within one hour of the offence, identified a group of Colombian nationals who were convicted of numerous armed robberies and provided crucial intelligence and ANPR analysis that led to the arrests and convictions of offenders involved in high value freight crime.
Whilst he is not out catching criminals, Ian’s expertise is such that he regularly presents to a number of stakeholder audiences and was invited to Holland to assist in the implementation of ANPR analysis in drug investigations. He also promotes the use of ANPR for witness protection.
Ian has received numerous commendations during his service and is the epitome of the modern roads policing officer.
Two other officers received runner-up awards for their contribution to roads policing.
Runner up Adam Pipe from Essex Police secured a number of funding initiatives, including £370,000 a year to drive road safety activities and a dedicated patrol team who attended an additional 1000 incidents on the road.
He has also set up events to raise awareness of poor motorcycle riding and road safety issues for children. This has led to a 13.5 per cent reduction in those killed or seriously injured in motorcycle accidents and a 19.6 per cent reduction in children that were killed or seriously injured during 2010 to 2011. In his spare time, Adam also volunteers as a member of the Special Constabulary.
Runner up Mark Pilling from Oxfordshire, Thames Valley is another vital part of the roads policing team tackling road crime and targeting prolific offenders, and has featured on the popular Road Wars TV series. He has received a number of commendations and awards for his dedication and commitment; in one week he arrested 21 prolific offenders.
As a result of Mark’s hard work, the road safety performance figures in the county dwarf that of the other two counties in the area. Mark has never taken a day off sick in 12 years.
Alan Jones, Police Federation of England and Wales roads policing lead says:
“These awards recognise those who have been nominated for outstanding and meritorious achievement within the delivery of an essential front line service to policing. There can only be one overall winner and D Sgt Ian Orton is very worthy of that accolade. He has shown tremendous initiative and his contribution to disrupting criminal activity is justifiably recognised. Both PC Mark Pilling and Adam Pipe narrowly missed the top award, but their contribution is also highly commendable."
Suzette Davenport, ACPO roads policing lead, says:
“I am never failed to be impressed by the level of dedication and commitment displayed by both the winners and nominees for this much coveted award. I’m immensely proud of the work that officers up and down the country are doing day in and day out to make our roads a safer place.
This award clearly demonstrates the importance of ANPR and roads policing in not only making our roads safe, but denying criminals and criminal organisations the use of the roads. Sergeant Orton is a deserving winner and I know he will be proud to receive the award.”
ENDS
Note to editors
For further details contact Hanna Hales (National Police Federation) on 07595004439 or hanna.hales@polfed.org
Photographs of the nominees with their awards will be available on Friday 20th January.
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