At the 2023 Annual Conference of the Crime Writers’ Association, I had what might have been the daunting task of a conversational interview with Detective Superintendent Vanessa Smith of West Yorkshire Police. Within seconds, I was undaunted. We covered her time as a probationer to almost the present day. She spoke with clarity, conviction, and honesty about many areas of interest, including some of the arrests she made, her approach to unexpected situations and events, tackling cybercrime, and the international response to human trafficking. This talk gave me unexpected insights into the work of West Yorkshire Police. The audience’s warmth towards her was palpable. They respected that she could not talk about everything, but what she did say made a powerful impression. She answered questions in a straightforward, informative way and stayed on to chat during the break that followed. For the rest of the weekend, people came up to me and said how good she was. They loved her.

D/Supt. Vanessa Smith In recognition of your dedication, commitment, and contribution to Counter Terrorism Policing North East, in addition to your loyal service to West Yorkshire Police. You have supported CTP NE and the wider CT Network with your experience and expertise. You have been instrumental on many CTP operations and exercises, working collaboratively with colleagues and partners to ensure a positive outcome. You have set and maintained high standards, driven performance and developed many others along your journey. With your colleagues, you have disrupted terrorism activity and kept people safe. There is no greater achievement than that.

In recognition of your outstanding commitment and dedication to the management of the Cyber Crime team for West Yorkshire Police and the Yorkshire and Humber Region. Your innovative and inspiring method of leadership has borne excellent results for the teams and has greatly encouraged partnership working with external agencies, Commissioners and other regulatory bodies. This has also led to securing funds for in excess of £650,000 which is being used to assist with the management of cyber training and investigations. Leading on the Cyber Independent Advisory Group and sharing ideas with colleagues around the globe has resulted in West Yorkshire Police becoming the lead force for Cyber Crime. Thank you, Vanessa.

In recognition of all your hard work, tireless enthusiasm and huge commitment to the Cyber Crime Team and the Digital Forensic Unit. Also to recognise your Gedication to the people of Protective Services Crime. You will be hugely missed by all in West Yorkshire Police and we all wish you much success in your new role and much deserved promotion with Humberside Police.

I thought she was absolutely brilliant. She restored my faith in the police especially after all the bad press recently. She was very inspirational and made me tear up several times with emotion with her conviction.

I thought she was great. Very open and honest, knowledgeable, spoke well, and came across as a good, solid copper but with obvious empathy for the vulnerable. Put it this way, I took more notes during her talk than anyone else's!

What an honour it was to have you join us on International Women’s Day to share some of your career experiences and insights! We had around 40 people on the Teams call to listen, and the feedback has been overwhelming, with comments such as: ‘What a powerful role model!’ ‘Vanessa was incredible, I am SO inspired’ ‘Absolutely fascinating’ It wasn’t just that you have such an interesting career history to share, but that you brought some genuine life lessons and thoughtful observations about being true to yourself, which really resonated with everyone. I genuinely think we all found your talk extremely inspiring – that we can rise to the top with hard work, humility and self-understanding. Talks like these help to motivate and encourage our teams, male and female alike, and I’m extremely grateful to Abi for making the introduction to such an engaging and insightful guest speaker! With many, many thanks for taking the time to speak to us, Vanessa, and very best wishes for continued success.

In recognition of your dedication, commitment, and contribution to Counter Terrorism Policing North East, in addition to your loyal service to West Yorkshire Police. You have supported CTP NE and the wider CT Network with your experience and expertise. You have been instrumental on many CTP operations and exercises, working collaboratively with colleagues and partners to ensure a positive outcome. You have set and maintained high standards, driven performance and developed many others along your journey. With your colleagues, you have disrupted terrorism activity and kept people safe. There is no greater achievement than that.

For your continued dedication, professionalism and leadership in ensuring West Yorkshire Police and its partners have an effective response in combatting the rising threat of Cyber attacks. Through innovative training methods and engaging approaches you have heightened awareness and capability in meeting these challenges

Police Constable 5210 Vanessa C. Smith was awarded this certificate for her professionalism, courage and initiative when, disregarding her own personal safety, she disarmed a woman who was threatening suicide.

Police Constable 5210 Vanessa C. Smith was awarded this certificate for her display of courage, presence of mind and disregard for her own safety when faced with a dangerous and life threatening situation.

Detective Constable 5210 Vanessa Smith For your tenacity, professionalism and dedication to duty during the investigation into the savage assault On James Ward in September 2001, resulting in the conviction and imprisonment of his attacker.

The Commander of Toller Lane Division is pleased to commend the distinguished service of Police Constable 5210 Smith for the professional manner in which she investigated a case of drug trafficking at school premises.

For your professionalism, skill and commitment in developing and presenting a comprehensive profile about Eastern European migration to Bradford, highlighting the opportunities being taken by criminals to exploit vulnerable victims.

For your professionalism, skill and commitment to partnership working to identify and tackle organised criminality and exploitation of vulnerable victims.

DC 5210 Vanessa Smith For your professionalism and dedication to duty which led to the arrest of a man for aggravated burglary committed against an elderly couple.

For your dedication to duty whilst carrying out a complex enquiry into the Ravenscliffe disorders of July 2001. Despite a lack of resources, the enquiry team investigated the disorder leading to the arrest and conviction of 18 people.

In recognition of your hard work, professionalism and dedication to the Regional Cyber Team. In a very short space of time you have quickly adapted to working on Serious and Organised Crime investigations and have provided a creditable cyber capability which now means that West Yorkshire is recognised nationally as a leading force in this field.

At the 2023 Annual Conference of the Crime Writers’ Association, I had what might have been the daunting task of a conversational interview with Detective Superintendent Vanessa Smith of West Yorkshire Police. Within seconds, I was undaunted. We covered her time as a probationer to almost the present day. She spoke with clarity, conviction, and honesty about many areas of interest, including some of the arrests she made, her approach to unexpected situations and events, tackling cybercrime, and the international response to human trafficking. This talk gave me unexpected insights into the work of West Yorkshire Police. The audience’s warmth towards her was palpable. They respected that she could not talk about everything, but what she did say made a powerful impression. She answered questions in a straightforward, informative way and stayed on to chat during the break that followed. For the rest of the weekend, people came up to me and said how good she was. They loved her.

D/Supt. Vanessa Smith In recognition of your dedication, commitment, and contribution to Counter Terrorism Policing North East, in addition to your loyal service to West Yorkshire Police. You have supported CTP NE and the wider CT Network with your experience and expertise. You have been instrumental on many CTP operations and exercises, working collaboratively with colleagues and partners to ensure a positive outcome. You have set and maintained high standards, driven performance and developed many others along your journey. With your colleagues, you have disrupted terrorism activity and kept people safe. There is no greater achievement than that. . In recognition of your outstanding commitment and dedication to the management of the Cyber Crime team for West Yorkshire Police and the Yorkshire and Humber Region. Your innovative and inspiring method of leadership has borne excellent results for the teams and has greatly encouraged partnership working with external agencies, Commissioners and other regulatory bodies. This has also led to securing funds for in excess of £650,000 which is being used to assist with the management of cyber training and investigations. Leading on the Cyber Independent Advisory Group and sharing ideas with colleagues around the globe has resulted in West Yorkshire Police becoming the lead force for Cyber Crime. Thank you, Vanessa.

In recognition of all your hard work, tireless enthusiasm and huge commitment to the Cyber Crime Team and the Digital Forensic Unit. Also to recognise your Gedication to the people of Protective Services Crime. You will be hugely missed by all in West Yorkshire Police and we all wish you much success in your new role and much deserved promotion with Humberside Police.