A CHESHIRE Police detective has picked up a prestigious prize at the National Police Bravery Awards.

Detective sergeant Mark Naylor received the Inspiration in Policing Award during the 25th annual ceremony on Tuesday, October 12.

The award was presented by Home Secretary Priti Patel in recognition of DS Naylor’s ‘inspirational method for helping officers to better understand what it is like to be a survivor of sexual abuse’.

Since 2018, he has travelled around the country giving presentations on the topic – including his own harrowing testimony of being abused by a family member as an eight-year-old boy and how this has impacted upon his life.

He said: “My intention is to move the victim agenda forward by being open about the effects of abuse and in doing so, help officers to get a better understanding so that the victims get better support and empathy when they come to us for help.

“I feel incredibly humbled by receiving this award, and hope that I can carry on with this work – I also want to continue to help colleagues understand the importance of speaking openly about difficult and taboo subjects such as abuse and mental ill-health.

“Being a victim can be an incredibly lonely place to be, and I believe that the more we talk about shameful things the less power they hold over us.

“I would like to give special thanks to our federation representative detective constable Jamie Thompson for looking after me and the other nominees from Cheshire so well.

“Thanks also to the Police Federation of England and Wales for organising such an amazing event.”

Detective chief superintendent Denise Worth, of the force’s public protection directorate, has also hailed DS Naylor’s work.

She added: “Congratulations to DS Naylor for his incredible work and for sharing his story to help so many others.

“Victims are at the heart of our policing here in Cheshire and DS Naylor has gone above and beyond to help officers here and across the country better understand victims and survivors with his incredibly brave and moving presentations.

“DS Naylor continues to support us in understanding those who come to us in their greatest time of need, and we’re incredibly proud of his work and dedication in this.

“In 2018, we also recognised DS Naylor’s outstanding contribution to policing and victims and survivors of abuse at our very own Achieving Cheshire Excellence Awards.

“DS Naylor truly deserves all the recognition he gets for his selfless commitment to victims and survivors and policing.”