ANNUAL CONFERENCE AWARDS
murdered during an armed robbery at Universal Express in Bradford. Her death shocked the nation and left an indelible scar on policing. While several offenders were convicted in the years that followed, the principal organiser, Piran Ditta Khan, remained at large abroad. For nearly two decades, West Yorkshire detectives refused to let the case rest. Their work involved rebuilding and re-examining lines of enquiry as new intelligence emerged, developing international partnerships to trace Khan’s movements, pursuing complex financial and intelligence leads, and navigating one of the most challenging extradition proceedings in modern policing. The disclosure exercise alone was among the largest ever undertaken, ensuring fairness and transparency. In 2024, Khan was finally extradited to the UK. His trial at Leeds Crown Court resulted in conviction and a life sentence with a minimum term of
40 years. The judge and prosecuting counsel commended the detectives’ determination and strategic case management. Regional policing awards recognised their achievement, and the PFNDF’s national honour now cements their place in history. Operation Geneva
excellence: rapid response under pressure and strategic patience over decades. Both cases underscore the importance of forensic rigour, collaboration across agencies and jurisdictions, disclosure management as a cornerstone of justice, and sustained commitment to victims and their families.
Ben Hudson, PFNDF
“The 2025 Detective Investigation of the Year award is not just a recognition of two remarkable teams. It is a reminder that whether justice takes days or decades,
detectives remain steadfast in their duty to victims, families and communities.”
demonstrates that detective work is not only about speed but about endurance, patience and the refusal to abandon victims and their families, no matter how long justice takes. By awarding the Detective Investigation of the Year jointly to Dorset and West Yorkshire, the PFNDF highlighted two complementary models of detective
Chair, summed up the significance of these awards: “These achievements embody the highest standards of investigative practice, safeguarding and public service. They remind us that detectives are not only investigators but guardians of justice and humanity.”
The 2025 Detective Investigation of the
Year award is not just a recognition of two remarkable teams. It is a reminder that whether justice takes days or decades, detectives remain steadfast in their duty to victims, families and communities. Their work sets a benchmark for future generations, proving that persistence and professionalism will always prevail.
19 | POLICE | DECEMBER | 2025
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