The Senior Investigating Officer for Operation Kenova, Keith Surtees, has been recognised for his work in His Majesty The King's New Year Honours List.
Keith led the investigation into the activities of Stakeknife and played a key role in uncovering evidence and building relationships with the families of those affected.
He has been made a Member of the British Empire in the 2025 New Year’s Honours List. 
Head of Kenova, Sir Iain Livingstone said: "Keith played a critical role in the investigation into Stakeknife, building strong relationships with stakeholders and families to uncover new evidence and provide answers to loved ones who had been denied the truth for so long.
"His exceptional work on Kenova follows an outstanding police career of public service and this recognition is fully merited."
Former Head of Kenova, Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: "Keith has a distinguished 36 year career in policing and I worked closely with him as part of Operation Kenova, where he was a senior investigating officer. He built relationships and trust with families in a way that other inquiries had not been able to. The impact that Keith’s efforts has had on Troubles related legacy investigations cannot be overstated."
Keith joined Kenova from the Metropolitan Police Service having served 30 years, 28 of those as a detective officer in numerous roles across London and New Scotland Yard attaining the rank of Commander.
Keith previously served as the Deputy 'Senior National Co-ordinator for Counter Terrorism' a national policing role responsible for operational decisions on all terrorism investigations across England, Wales and Scotland. He gained experience for this role as Head of Investigations at the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command (SO15), during signiificant events such as the 2012 London Olympic Games and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
Notable investigations led by Keith during his detective career include the 2006 original phone hacking investigation delivering convictions of the News of the World, Royal Correspondent and a Private Investigator. He devised and led the successful proactive operation into the Operation 'Minstead' case, (one of the longest running manhunts in the Metropolitan Police’s history). It was this operation that led to the arrest and conviction of Delroy Grant for multiple residential burglaries and sexual assaults of very elderly residents across South London over a period of 17 years.
He also led a number of national and international terrorism investigations into Al Qaeda and Islamic State inspired terrorists working closely with international law enforcement and overseas Governments.