Police fingerprints expert wins top award

11:37am Thursday 13th November 2008

A POLICE fingerprints expert - who worked on the Morecambe Bay cockle picker tragedy - has got his hands on a top award.

John Harwood, 62, is head of Lancashire Constabulary's Fingerprints Department and was awarded the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Homicide Working Group Police Staff Award at the Senior Investigating Officers Conference, in Bedfordshire last week.

The 62-year-old inspector has worked for the Fingerprint Department for 43 years and is the force’s longest serving employee.

Mr Harwood has worked on a number of high profile cases including the Yorkshire Ripper murders and the Morecambe Bay cockle picker tragedy.

He said he was very pleased with the prestigious award.

“Whilst Fingerprint Bureau involvement in the investigation of this type of crime arises because of sad and often tragic events, there is enormous satisfaction in being part of, and contributing to, the wider Lancashire Constabulary team carrying out the investigation,” he said.

Detective Chief Superintendent Graham Gardner, Head of Crime, said: “John has worked tirelessly over the years to develop the use of fingerprints as an investigative tool and has secured Lancashire’s Scientific Support Department national status. “He is a shining example of the many hundreds of dedicated staff who support major investigations across the UK and within Lancashire is widely regarded as a Constabulary treasure.”