Asset Recovery Working Group
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Stars come out for top award in financial investigation
Stars from the UK's financial investigation community gathered at the Arsenal Emirates Stadium in London today to celebrate the winners of the Keith Hughes Award for Excellence in Financial Investigation.
Now in its fourth year, the award was established in memory of Detective Constable Keith Hughes, a financial investigator with the former National Crime Squad who died from cancer in July 2003.
The award which is open to all accredited financial investigators across the UK recognises the achievements of those who have made an outstanding contribution within the financial investigation field.
The 2008 shortlist consisted of a number of high calibre nominations for both the individual and team award categories. The awards were presented by actor Graham Cole; famed for his on screen character, PC Stamp on the ITV drama series The Bill, and the daughters of Keith Hughes, Leah and Megan Hughes.
David Armond, Chairman of the Asset Recovery Working Group, said:
"The Keith Hughes Award for Excellence in Financial Investigation is about celebrating exceptional performance in asset recovery work. We received many strong entries this year and to be nominated is in itself an achievement. Using the powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act to develop innovative new techniques, financial investigators can stay ahead of the criminals and hit them where it hurts, in their pockets, proving that crime doesn't pay."
The winners and runners up of the Keith Hughes Award for Excellence in Financial Investigation 2008 are listed:
Winner of the Individual Award
* Detective Sergeant Paul
Farrell, of the Metropolitan Police Service, Operation Trident
Proactive North West Team.
Winners of the Team Award
* South Cumbria Area Police, Basic
Command Unit Financial Investigation Team.
Runners up for the Individual Award
* Sergeant Neil Zabit, of
the Metropolitan Police Service, Territorial Support Group
* Geraldine Marchment, from Halton Borough Council, Consumer Protection Service and Trading Standards North West regional Financial Investigator.
Runners up for the Team Award
* The Metropolitan Police
Service, Clubs and Vice Unit, Financial Investigation (Payback) Team.
* The Asset Recovery Agency and Serious Fraud Office, Izodia Team (formerly)
NOTES
1. For further information and images of the winners and runners up receiving their awards contact Nnenna Oleforo, Payback Communications Officer on 020 7979 5363 or 07795 685 301, email nnenna.oleforo@soca.x.gsi.gov.uk.
2. The Keith Hughes Award for Excellence in Financial Investigation is open to all accredited financial investigators in the UK. Awards can be given to an individual or a team, nominees must demonstrate success in some or all of the following criteria:
* Determination over a protracted period
* Innovation
*
Ability to confront and achieve success in the face of great
complexity and/or adversity
* Highest standards of integrity
and professionalism
* Have delivered a substantial outcome for
the public interest
* Leadership
For further information
contact the award secretariat on 020 7238 2956 or email keithhughesaward@koala121.com
3. 'Payback - taking the cash out of crime' is the brand owned by the Asset Recovery Working Group, which is made up of representatives from 15 different Government departments and law enforcement agencies. Payback incorporates a multi agency approach sharing best practice in using the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to reduce crime in the UK through asset recovery; taking millions of pounds out of the criminals' hands.
Asset Recovery Working Group, Communications Office, PO Box 8000, London, SE11 5EN Tel: 020 7979 5363
