Derby police detective jailed for stealing £85,000 from force safe

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Nov, 18:02 · Archive

A former detective at Derbyshire Police stole more than £85,000 in seized criminal cash to pay for a car and holiday.

Michelle Kirsty Reason, a 54-year-old former detective constable at Derbyshire Police, has been jailed for four years and two months after admitting theft and misconduct in public office. She stole £87,174.05, €1,629 and £114 worth of Albanian Lek from the force while working as an exhibits officer at St Mary's Wharf police station in Derby, one of only a small number of people with access to a safe containing hundreds of thousands of pounds in money seized from criminals.

Reason began taking cash in January 2022 after handling a large seizure of approximately £350,000. She initially stole £15,000 and, finding that nobody noticed, began taking money regularly until she left the force in December 2025. She spent the stolen money on a car, a holiday and event tickets.

The theft came to light when officers began reviewing stored exhibits in preparation for an upcoming court case and questioned where the cash had gone. Realising she had been discovered, Reason attended St Mary's Wharf police station and confessed, providing a full account of the money taken and bringing with her the empty evidence bags the cash had been seized in.

Temporary Deputy Chief Constable Michelle Shooter said Reason 'was placed in a position of trust as a Detective Constable' and 'broke the trust that we as a force put in her – and broke the trust that the public puts in officers to conduct themselves in a right and proper way'.

How it is being reported

• Detective stole more than £85,000 from police forceMichelle Kirsty Reason admitted taking money from Derbyshire Police that had been seized from criminals.BBC Derbyshire · 9 Nov, 17:26
• Derby detective stole more than £85,000 from force safe to pay for car and holidayKirsty Reason had privileged access to money seized from criminals and helped herself to itDerbyshire Live · 9 Nov, 16:45

In this story: Michelle Kirsty Reason · Derbyshire Police · Derby · St Mary's Wharf police station · Mansfield

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