An Ashfield neighbourhoods officer with a remarkable record for shutting down properties that had become a magnet for drug-related crime has been crowned Nottinghamshire Police’s Officer of the Year.
PC Ryan Frew-McGill (pictured) compiled sufficient evidence to secure closure orders on 25 properties over the past 18 months – often cancelling days off to complete the necessary workload.
The Ashfield neighbourhood officer has also helped reduce anti-social behaviour by clamping down on stores selling counterfeit vapes, knives and alcohol to children.
He has also developed a number of educational packages and gone into schools to teach pupils about the dangers of speaking to strangers, as well as the consequences of knife crime and hate crime.
On Tuesday (7 May), the 26-year-old was crowned Nottinghamshire Police’s Officer of the Year at the first of two evening ceremonies recognising the achievements of the force’s officers, staff and volunteers.
PC Frew-McGill scooped the prestigious award having been nominated by Inspector Jon Hewitt, who leads the Ashfield Neighbourhood Policing Team. Inspector Hewitt said:
“Tackling drug-related crime and specifically addresses linked to county lines networks and organised crime groups is consistently a local policing priority in Ashfield, as surveying data shows it is by far the greatest concern to local communities.
“In August 2022, I briefed local teams of my desire to utilise premises closures to remove addresses used for drug dealing.
“PC Frew-McGill took to this task with gusto and by June 2023 had personally compiled sufficient evidence and liaised with legal services to secure 18 premises closures.
“This was a remarkable total as each closure involves a substantial piece of work, including community surveys, statements taken from local residents and consultation with partners such as the local council, legal services and senior officers.
“We’ve received highly positive feedback on the back of these closures, with messages of thanks received from residents.
“Intelligence has also been received that organised crime groups are now struggling to source addresses within Ashfield for their criminal enterprises.”
Inspector Hewitt said PC Frew-McGill – who has been a neighbourhoods officer for two years – had impressed in various other ways. He said:
“Ryan has proven himself to be adaptive as well and innovative. For example, he has led the setting up of a number of test purchase operations for underage sales of alcohol, vapes and counterfeit vapes in conjunction with Trading Standards.
“In relation to a particular local store which persistently sold counterfeit vapes and was linked to underage sales and selling knives to children, Ryan successfully closed the premise for three months. This ultimately led to the alcohol licence being revoked until new management could come in and bring the store back to a premise that served the local community well.
“He has worked tirelessly to make Ashfield a better place to live, work and visit and is invaluable to Nottinghamshire Police.
“He has displayed great resilience, determination, adaptability and personal responsibility and is fully deserving of this recognition.”
PC Frew-McGill said he was thrilled to be crowned Nottinghamshire Police’s Officer of the Year. He said:
“I feel honoured to have been nominated and extremely grateful to have been presented with the award. It’s difficult to express my gratitude.
“What motivates me to work so hard is the change. Being able to see a positive change in an area regardless of size makes all the difference.
“With closure orders I have been able to see positive change in communities. It’s improved the lives of local residents and has also given those living in the properties an opportunity to start over with support.”
More information on this year’s Force Awards winners can be found here: Winners of Nottinghamshire Police Force Awards announced | Nottinghamshire Police
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