A detective in charge of probing some of Kent’s most notorious murders, including the Russell killings, has been honoured.

Retired DCI Dave Stevens led the investigation into the slaughter of Lin and Megan Russell in Chillenden in 1996.

He has now won a national award at the Police Federation’s National Detectives Forum awards ceremony.

In a career spanning more than 40 years, Mr Stevens was the senior investigating officer in several high-profile murder cases.

He has now been given the Services to Detectives Award for his contribution to investigative policing.

After retiring as a police office in 2003, he returned to Kent Police to set up a serious case review team in the county.

His work led to the development of a cold case investigation team and the successful prosecution of many serious offenders who thought they had escaped justice.

He also became an integral part of setting up the public protection unit as a specialist department within the force to oversee investigations of offences against children, young people and vulnerable adults.

Police officers in Sierra Leone have benefited from Mr Stevens’ wealth of experience too, as he has visited the country four times to help develop their intelligence and investigation processes.

Mr Stevens said: “It’s a fantastic honour and a big surprise after 43 years. But everything is down to teams, not individuals – I have been lucky enough to work with some fantastic people over the years.”

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Worron, head of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, said: “I’m really pleased Dave has been recognised with this accolade.
“It is recognition for the contribution his work has made not only to policing, but to the people of Kent.

“He has managed many significant investigations throughout his career and his work in setting up a number of specialist teams within Kent Police means we will benefit from his expertise and contribution for many years to come.”

Mr Steven was a Det Ch Insp when he led the investigation into the murders of Lin Russell, 45, and her daughter Megan, six, on July 9. 1996.

Megan’s sister, Josie, nine, was also bludgeoned in the hammer attack but survived.

Michael Stone, of Gillingham, now 56, was convicted of the murders and attempted murder in 1998 and convicted again in a retrial in 2001.