SUFFOLK'S chief scenes of crime officer is celebrating today after scooping a top national award.

SUFFOLK'S chief scenes of crime officer is celebrating today after scooping a top national award.

David Stagg, who has worked as head of scenes of crime and DNA in the county since 1999, was honoured at the Association of Chief Police Officers Homicide Working Group's annual awards ceremony.

He was recognised for his work on a number of murder cases in the county including, most recently the murder of Dawn Walker in February last year.

Miss Walker's former boyfriend Kevin Nunn was jailed for her murder this week.

The award comes shortly after Mr Stagg was presented with the Lindacre Award, which is given to the member of Suffolk police staff who has shown outstanding innovation, commitment and service.

Mr Stagg said: “After 20 years in scenes of crime work, it is a great privilege to receive the award from the ACPO Homicide Working Group.

“It reflects well on Suffolk Constabulary and, in particular, on our scenes of crime team.”

Mr Stagg started his working life in the research and development lab of a board bill in the north of England, before joining Cumbria Constabulary as a scenes of crime officer (SOCO) in 1986.

He moved to Suffolk as a senior SOCO in 1999 and now oversees 24 officers based at Ipswich, Lowestoft and Bury St Edmunds.

Jim Burzio, scientific services manager for the force, said: “David has acted as a forensic co-ordinator in a number of very difficult and high profile major incidents that have required extensive and ground breaking forensic analysis.

“Throughout these inquiries David's management has been first class.”

Have you received major recognition for your work? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk

Weblink:

www.suffolk.police.uk