Nominations Top Award In Financial Investigation 2009

Nominations are now being sought for the top award recognising excellence among the UK's Accredited Financial Investigators (AFIs).

The 'Keith Hughes Award for Excellence in Financial Investigation', now in its 5th year, is designed to represent the pinnacle of achievement within the field of UK financial investigation and is open to AFIs from all agencies.

The award was set up in memory of Detective Constable Keith Hughes, a financial investigator with the former National Crime Squad who died from cancer in July 2003. It aims to promote and reward the values Keith's work and life inspired through recognising the achievements of those who have made an outstanding contribution within UK financial investigation and law enforcement.

The winner of last year's individual award was Detective Sergeant Paul Farrell, of the Metropolitan Police Service, while South Cumbria, Basic Command Unit Financial Investigation Team won the team award.

Ian Cruxton, Chair of the Asset Recovery Working Group, said: "The Keith Hughes Award for Excellence in Financial Investigation is about recognising exceptional performance and innovative use of financial investigation tools to tackle all sorts of crime, to reduce the harm caused by criminals and ensure that crime doesn't pay."

Steve Wilkinson, National Policing Improvements Agency (NPIA) Training Manager said: "The NPIA has statutory authority under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA) to train, accredit and monitor the accreditation of all those who have powers under POCA. In order to do this, we here at the Proceeds of Crime Centre assess hundreds of portfolios and case files each year. I read many of these personally and see the excellent hard work that financial investigators and financial investigation units are carrying out across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. I feel that financial investigators are too modest sometimes in what they contribute to the Harm Reduction agenda and these awards are a vehicle for the recognition of that hard work."

Ian Davidson, Association of Chief Police Officers England and Wales, National Co-ordinator, Financial Investigation and Proceeds of Crime said: "It is very important that we celebrate the hard work done by financial investigators. Having now visited almost every Police Force across England and Wales I am always impressed by the dedication and hard work of this small group of specialists. I also know that the same is true of financial investigators from other agencies and the contribution they make is worthy of recognition. These awards are increasingly prestigious and a nomination is in itself an excellent way of recognising the hard work done by financial investigators."

The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 30 September 2009. The awards will be presented at a dedicated awards ceremony in January 2010.