Sheena's police work gets national recognition

A woman who has developed a successful career since starting out as a police staff apprentice is to receive a national accolade.

Sheena Urwin, who heads up the Criminal Justice Department at Durham Constabulary, has been awarded Police Staff Member of the

Year by the British Association for Women in Policing.

She has spent her whole career working for the police service and most recently has collaborated with Cambridge University as part of her most recent studies, which concentrated on artificial intelligence within the policing environment.

Mrs Urwin concentrated specifically on the independent validation and development of Durham Constabulary’s Harm Assessment Risk Tool (HART).

HART is an algorithmic forecast of an offender’s potential to offend. The artificial intelligence approach helps forecast the risk in terms of seriousness and can be used in custody to support the custody sergeant’s decision making.

This helps ensure that any support or diversionary action is appropriate to the risk the individual poses.

HART has received national and international attention – with Mrs Urwin frequently travelling across the globe to share this technology within policing.

She said: “When the organisers got in touch I was thrilled. I really didn’t expect it, it’s fantastic.

“Police staff play a pivotal role in policing with the work they do and I am proud to say I have worked in policing for 32 years. To be noticed and recognised by peers makes me very proud indeed.”

The award ceremony, postponed in June, will be held in November.