Detective Constables Edyta Nightingale and Claire Atkinson, along with Detective Inspector Shish Thind. Image credit: Cambridgeshire Police Force
Two Federation members say they are thankful for their respective career journeys after winning commendations for their efforts investigating a major case.
Detective Constables Edyta Nightingale and Claire Atkinson were both recognised at Chief Superintendent Neil Billany’s commendations earlier this year after they had helped bring a Peterborough-based paedophile to justice for sexual assault on a minor.
Together with Detective Inspector Shish Thind, Edyta and Claire worked tirelessly in response to the incident, reviewing evidence including CCTV footage and mobile phone data to secure a conviction and nine-year jail sentence for the offender.
In July 2022, a predatory man in Dogsthorpe persuaded a 12-year-old girl into his car and sexually assaulted her. Eventually, the girl escaped from the vehicle and a 999 call was made by a member of the public.
Within 24 hours, three people had been arrested in connection with the event.
Claire says this fast turnaround was crucial for the investigation: “Because of the nature of the crime and risk of further offences, we needed this man off the streets as soon as possible – we had no choice but to move quickly.
“Essentially, he was going to continue driving around looking for his next victim, so he needed stopping immediately,” she continued on the offender, who had unsuccessfully attempted to lure a younger girl, aged 10, into his car earlier on the same day.
As individuals and evidence were put under further scrutiny, the victim of the assault needed compassion.
“It would have been understandable for her to struggle with things, but she was very mature and she trusted us,” said Edyta, adding: “In a very awful incident, it was an honour to have helped her in the aftermath.”
Prior to becoming a regular officer, Edyta, now 41, had volunteered with the police as a Special Constable.
“When I was a Special, I felt very valued but there was also a sense of gratitude just for showing up, seeing as I was a volunteer,” she recalled.
“Then, being a regular, I felt more pressure to perform in certain areas at first, such as being more physically proactive and dominant – but I had always de-escalated situations more by keeping things very calm and talking to people.”
Deciding to stay true to herself, she says she eventually realised there is no single correct way to ‘step up’ as a police officer, and that the force does indeed need a mixture of approaches from different people to be successful.
This gave her the confidence to pursue a role as a detective, where she would come to feel even more at home using her skills and attributes.
“What I do now feels connected to everything that came before in my professional life,” she reflected.
A similar passion for helping victims in this manner has also been unlocked in recent years by Claire, who left her role as a member of psychology at HMP Stocken in Oakham, Rutland, and joined the force’s accelerated detective entry programme.
“In the prison service, I’d only worked with offenders and never victims, and I wanted to see the impact of crime on the flip side,” said Claire.
“My time in policing so far has been an experience I’m so glad I pushed myself to go for. You soon realise detective work is not all about the glitzy parts – it’s about being there for victims and that’s what I really love.
“Cases like this one are why I joined – they’re what I’m here for,” said Claire, after adding her own tribute to the young girl: “She was absolutely incredible in how she handled herself after the incident.
“The confidence she had in putting her account across, despite outside noise from the offender’s family that would be enough to throw an adult off – never mind a child – is something that will stay with me forever.”