
Thames Valley Police have commended two Milton Keynes-based police officers for their work addressing serious violence and knife crime in the city.
During a ceremony at Thames Valley Police’s Sulhamstead training centre, Chief Constable Jason Hogg commended Sergeants Tom Neilson and Colin Prickett for their response and leadership in addressing serious violence and knife crime.
Sergeants Neilson and Prickett led the operational delivery of Operation Dina – a local initiative targeting those involved in violence, knife crime and drugs.
The operation was launched in response to a surge in serious violence in the city in 2022, including four tragic knife-related homicides.
In praising Sergeants Neilson and Prickett, Thames Valley Police described Operation Dina as a operation that quickly evolved to be a blueprint for tackling these issues.
They said, “What started as an innovative operation in localised Milton Keynes areas quickly evolved into a proactive operation targeting those who caused the most harm within our communities.”
Operation Dina ran between 1st May 2022 and 1st March 2023 and resulted in 338 arrests, 164 charges, 740 stop and searches and 107 weapons recovered.
Thames Valley Police said that the results of the operation highlight the operation’s success in disrupting serious violence and knife crime, and ultimately reducing threats to community safety.
They also said, “Throughout the operation, Sergeants Neilson and Prickett demonstrated exceptional commitment, adaptability, and leadership, often adjusting plans at the last minute and sacrificing their personal time to ensure its success.”
Sergeant Tom Neilson commented on his commendation by saying, “I am extremely proud to have undertaken this work and been able to contribute to making Milton Keynes a safer city for the great communities that live within it.
“I am very humbled and honoured to have received this recognition and grateful for every officer and member of staff that played vital roles in supporting the operation and its objectives.”
Sergeant Colin Prickett added, “I am proud to be recognised for 18 months of dedication to tackling serious violence and knife crime in Milton Keynes, and a big thank you to all the officers that bought into the operation and contributed to making it a success.”
Superintendent Euan Livingstone had nominated Sergeants Neilson and Prickett and commented, “Tom and Colin were pivotal to the delivery of Operation Dina and volunteered to run this alongside their day-to-day job in neighbourhood policing.
“Witnessing their unwavering commitment to leading officers while consistently prioritising community safety was truly outstanding. It stands out as some of the finest operational leadership I’ve encountered in my career.
“Both Tom and Colin are highly experienced neighbourhood sergeants and a credit to Milton Keynes Local Command Unit. They are passionate in doing the right thing, they always lead from the front and they are so very deserving of this commendation.”