ACC Kerrin Wilson scoops top awards for work shielding businesses from crime

Lincolnshire Police’s ACC Kerrin Wilson has won two Institute of Directors Awards for her tireless work in helping businesses to better protect themselves from crime.

Kerrin is the only Institute of Directors (IOD) Policing and Criminal Justice Ambassador in the East Midlands Region and was nominated for her work in trying to bring closer links between the worlds of business and criminal justice. She has been an active contributor to the work of Directors throughout the East Midlands region and through her role on the Lincolnshire and Rutland Branch Committee.

Over 20% of crime in the region impacts upon the business community. Kerrin has driven forward several regional initiatives which support Directors to tackle and reduce crime, including as an active contributor to the Lincolnshire Cyber Security Forum, and has helped lead on work in Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding in the workplace. The particular focus of this has involved helping businesses to understand what they can do to protect and support their employees who may be experiencing this type of crime. It has also included influencing and connecting key parts of Lincolnshire Police to businesses, such as our Protecting Vulnerable Persons department and Cybercrime team, so we can protect people.

Kerrin has proactively supported Directors and businesses to protect themselves, and their businesses, through developing skills and learning that better protection can shield business from crippling cybercrime and criminal activity. 

Separate to this, Kerrin has also shone a light on the strategic importance to business of having a diverse workforce.  She has spoken at numerous events throughout the region, including the recent IOD Diversity in Leadership Convention, where she formed part of a panel discussing the importance of equality and diversity in the workplace. 

Following the ceremony last night, which was held at the Space Centre in Leicester, she said: “I am completely bowled over and humbled to have won. I was joined by nominees who have made such huge differences in their areas of work that it really means a lot to be recognised in this way. I’ve always been passionate about the ways in which I, and Lincolnshire Police as a whole, can protect people from crime and help them protect themselves, and this just helps galvanise our resolve to keep going. This isn’t just about me because I’m one part of a big picture, and this award is a reflection on the teamwork involved and Lincolnshire Police as a whole.”
Kerrin has been Lincolnshire Police’s Assistant Chief Constable for three years and has also worked in hostage negotiating across the world and is a strong advocate for BAME and women’s aspirations.  She  is the co-founder of the Greater Lincolnshire Outstanding Women’s Network (GLOW), which is the voice of senior female leaders and Directors from across the public and private sectors of Lincolnshire.

Chief Constable Chris Haward praised Kerrin for how dedication to helping businesses in the region. “Kerrin has put her heart and soul into this work because crime that effects our businesses effects everyone - it can cost jobs, and in some cases livelihoods, and impacts on how people feel about where they work and live.  The more we can do to help and inform people, the better, and Kerrin has been instrumental in that. I’m incredibly proud of her and the work she has carried out for which she has been recognised, and the work she continues to do.”