DETECTIVE Constable Matt Beavis has led a successful investigation to convict a man found in possession of over 1,300 indecent images.

He joined Avon and Somerset Police in 2021 as an officer on Police Now’s National Detective Programme.

He was also the Officer in Charge of a Domestic Abuse case, where his exceptional victim support led to new and non-recent offences being disclosed and resulted in several charges against the violent offender, who is now serving time behind bars.

He has spoken about these two key investigations during his time as a Police Now detective and his new role on Operation Bluestone.

He said: “After completing Police Now’s National Detective Programme academy training in 2021, I spent some time on the Response team and in the Detainee Investigation Team before I joined Bristol’s Criminal Investigation Department.  

“The first investigation that I worked as Officer in Charge on was an indecent image case; we received a referral from an external agency, about a man who had sent an indecent image of a child to someone on social media.

"We conducted a suspect interview and executed a search warrant, seizing several digital devices.

"Upon investigating the devices, we found just over 1,300 indecent images. The offender was charged with possession of indecent images and originally pleaded not guilty, but thanks to the strong evidence we collated, he changed his plea to guilty and was convicted in court in February this year.  

“I also recently supported a victim of Domestic Abuse, whose partner had a long history of violence against her and others.

"The offender was arrested, after a short police pursuit, for threatening her with a machete and causing criminal damage to property. While he was in custody I reviewed previous charges against him, which included Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) and Actual Bodily Harm (ABH).

"He was remanded for nine months in prison during the investigation then sentenced to a further 42 months. He has been served with an indefinite restraining order, a weapon destruction order and was ordered to provide the victim with compensation.

“Being a detective is incredibly challenging, but investigating complex cases, securing justice for victims and protecting the community makes it a rewarding and worthwhile career. I graduated from Police Now’s two-year programme in April, alongside almost 160 other officers nationally who began their training with me.

"I recently worked alongside one of those officers in a neighbouring force, to help investigate an offender with a long string of serious sexual offences across the country who is now serving time in prison thanks to her work."

“I am now tutoring four trainee detective constables in Avon and Somerset Police who are in the process of becoming accredited detectives, and I have recently moved to ‘Operation Bluestone’ where I continue to investigate sexual assault and rape cases.  

Applications to Police Now’s National Detective Programme are currently open.