A TEAM of 56 people who worked on the nine-year Shafilea Ahmed murder investigation at Warrington has been presented with a commendation by Cheshire Police Authority.
The Commendation for Service Excellence has been awarded to 39 Cheshire police officers – some now retired- 15 members of police staff and two members of the Crown Prosecution Service.
All were involved in the investigation into the death of the Warrington teenager.
Shafilea was reported missing in 2003. The following year her body was found beside a river in Cumbria. In August this year her parents were convicted of her murder.
Police authority chairman Margaret Ollerenshaw said: “A commendation is the highest honour we can give and the highest award in policing outside honours from the Queen.
“This is the final commendation the authority will award as we are about to be replaced by a Police and Crime Commissioner. It is also the first time we have awarded a commendation to a large team of people.
“This was an exemplary piece of police work conducted under very close public scrutiny. The high standard was maintained throughout the investigation and through the trial, keeping pace with every twist and turn that developed.
“We felt we should recognise the entire team. So, it is very appropriate that this final commendation should go to so many people to mark the time, effort and dedication they put in to achieve justice for a teenage girl who was denied the right to an adult life.”
Reading from the citation, Helen King, Deputy Chief Constable of Cheshire said the investigation had been one of the most high profile and complex cases undertaken by Cheshire Constabulary.
“It was emotionally challenging for those involved and required considerable professional skills in relation to the investigation, supporting local communities and managing media interest” she said.
Ms Ollerenshaw added: “When the trial was over and the verdicts came in there was no sense of elation among this team. One officer said: ‘In the end it is all very sad. A girl died.’
“That comment summed up the care for victims and communities, the sense of justice and the professional attitude of this team and of Cheshire Constabulary as a whole.”
Pictured: Police Authority chairman Margaret Ollerenshaw presents Detective Chief Inspector Chris Ankers with the ‘Service Excellence’ award. Detective Superintendent Geraint Jones (with the commendation) and Deputy Chief Constable Helen King, look on.
1 Comment
Why did they get a commendation for doing the work they were paid to. It took them nine years, for heaven’s sake, to prove what was glaringly obvious – that she had been murdered by her parents.