Acquisitive Crime Conference 2026 Press Release
Honouring the Frontline of Crime Prevention: National Acquisitive Crime Awards 2026 Celebrate Outstanding Contributions Across the UK
9 July 2026
Buckinghamshire, UK - On Tuesday 7 July, 90 guests gathered at the De Vere Latimer Estate for the National Acquisitive Crime Awards 2026, a unique event recognising the innovation, dedication, and collaborative spirit driving efforts to prevent and reduce acquisitive crime across the UK.
Hosted by SelectaDNA, the awards shine a light on individuals, teams, and partnerships that go above and beyond to tackle crimes such as theft, anti-social behaviour, and domestic abuse - often working behind the scenes to create safer communities.
The ceremony, hosted once again by Ian Dyson CBE QPM DL, former Commissioner of the City of London Police, marked a third successful year of the awards and reflected the growing momentum behind intelligence-led, community-driven approaches to crime reduction.
Attendees included representatives from forces such as the Metropolitan Police Service, Thames Valley Police, Durham Constabulary, North Yorkshire Police, Dyfed-Powys Police, Merseyside Police, Northumbria Police and Cumbria Constabulary, alongside retailers, construction organisations, and business crime and community safety partnerships.
This year also saw the introduction of a new category – Officer of the Year – created to recognise the dedication, leadership, and impact of officers whose work has gone above and beyond in protecting the public and preventing crime.
A Panel of Esteemed Judges
The awards were independently judged by a panel of respected experts from policing, security, and the legal sector, who assessed nominations against clear criteria to ensure a fair and credible process.
The 2026 judging panel included:
- Georgie Barnard, former Head of the National Business Crime Centre
- Rick Mounfield MSc CSyP FSyI, Director at Optimal Risk Group
- Claire Palmer, Barrister at 5 Essex Chambers
- Andy Gregory, former West Midlands Police Crime Reduction Unit Manager
- Andrew Knights, Chief Executive, Knights Security Group
- James Brown, Managing Director, Selectamark Security Systems
Celebrating Impact Across Five Key Categories
Across five award categories, judges recognised both winners and runners-up - a new addition introduced this year due to the exceptionally high standard of nominations.
Most Innovative Acquisitive Crime Reduction Project Award
Presented by Andrew Knights
Winner: Inspector Mark Earnshaw, Sergeant David Lund and the NYP Rural Task Force, North Yorkshire Police
Led the UK's largest rural rollout of SelectaDNA property marking across 1,500+ farms, reducing theft by up to 96% and repeat victimisation by 91%. Delivered a highly effective, partnership-led initiative that protects high-risk assets, disrupts organised crime, and sets a nationally recognised model for rural crime prevention.
Runner-up: Inspector Jon McLoughlin and Twickenham/Richmond Safer Neighbourhood Team, Metropolitan Police
Pioneered an intelligence-led tracker bike decoy model, repurposing seized cycles to map offender behaviour and expose wider acquisitive crime. Across 12 deployments, achieved 7 arrests and 10 charges, generating intelligence for CBOs and lifting outcomes from a 3.23% baseline – creating a scalable, low-cost tactic that boosted confidence.
Exceptional Team Award
Presented by James Brown
Winner: Thames Valley Police, Berkshire West LCU Priority Crime Team
Led Operation Renegade, a complex multi-force investigation into organised ATM attacks, linking 18 offences and recovering over £250,000 in losses. Through innovative CCTV analysis and cross-force coordination, the team secured multiple convictions, dismantled a criminal network, and brought an end to this series of offences.
Runner-up: PS Chris Collins, Donna Grover and Victoria Snow, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary
Led a force-wide bike marking initiative using BikeRegister, distributing over 15,000 kits and reducing theft by 14%, with up to 47% reductions in hotspots. Combined data-led targeting with community engagement to disrupt wider crime, strengthen trust, and embed a sustainable, preventative policing model.
The Will Davies Partnership Project Award
Presented by Georgie Barnard
Winner: Cambridge Cycle Crime Reduction Group
Delivered a 70% reduction in cycle theft since 2019 through a multi-agency, intelligence-led approach combining education, infrastructure and enforcement. United diverse partners to implement long-term, preventative solutions, creating a scalable model that improves public confidence and supports sustainable travel.
Runner-up: York Inner Neighbourhood Policing Team
Delivered Operation Battery, a multi-agency initiative reducing cycle theft by 46% through prevention-led, intelligence-driven partnership working and the use of BikeRegister. Marked over 2,800 bikes and introduced innovative tactics including decoy operations and GPS tracking, creating a sustainable, scalable model that improves public confidence and supports safer cycling.
Officer of the Year Award
Presented by Jim Taylor, Opal
Winner: Sergeant Dave Catlow, Metropolitan Police
Led a nationally influential response to tool theft, organising large-scale marking initiatives using SelectaDNA and recovering £2m of stolen equipment. Built partnerships across policing, government and industry, raising awareness and driving coordinated action. His leadership has strengthened prevention, improved recovery, and set a new standard for tackling tool theft.
Runner-up: PC Liban Husen, Metropolitan Police
Delivered exceptional results in tackling retail crime, driving an 84% increase in positive outcomes and securing custodial sentences for prolific offenders. Through proactive policing and strong partnerships, reduced repeat victimisation, improved safety for retailers, and created a scalable, intelligence-led model for sustained crime reduction.
Special Achievement Award
Presented by Claire Palmer
Winner: DCI Andrew Crowe and DI Hannah Wilson, Durham Constabulary
Led Operation Wicker, using SelectaDNA forensic marking solutions to protect victims of domestic abuse and VAWG. Achieved a 22% reduction in repeat incidents, improved victim confidence and safety, and created a nationally recognised, evidence-based safeguarding approach now being adopted by other forces.
Runner-up: Sue Petty, Executive Director, Sidcup Partners BID
Led a multi-agency approach to reduce acquisitive crime across Bexley, improving reporting, reducing ASB and shoplifting, and strengthening community confidence. Introduced innovative, compassionate interventions and safety initiatives, creating a safer, more resilient town centre and a sustainable model for partnership-led crime prevention.
Reflections on the Night
Reflecting on the evening, James Brown, Managing Director of Selectamark Security Systems, shared:
"This year's awards once again showcased the extraordinary breadth of work being done to prevent and reduce acquisitive crime across the UK – from forward-thinking projects and effective partnerships to exceptional teams and dedicated individuals. Our thanks go to the judges, who gave generously of their time and expertise, and congratulations to all of this year's winners and runners-up."
For further information, please contact:
Jessica Farrugia
Selectamark Security Systems plc
