CHAIR ASKS MEET THE JUDGES
National Chair Steve Hartshorn catches up with this year’s Police Bravery Awards judges ahead of the much-awaited annual event
Introducing the panel of judges for this year’s Police Bravery Awards, Steve Hartshorn speaks to the distinguished group tasked with the formidable responsibility of identifying and honouring individuals who have displayed exceptional courage in the face of adversity. With years of experience and expertise in various fields, these five judges bring a wealth of knowledge and insight to the selection process. Their commitment to recognising acts of
bravery and valour ensures that deserving individuals receive the recognition they rightfully deserve. Through their collective dedication, the Bravery Awards continue to inspire and celebrate the extraordinary acts of courage.
TIFF LYNCH, PFEW DEPUTY NATIONAL CHAIR:
SH: How important is the 20 | POLICE | APRIL | 2024
impact of a police officer’s action on the community when assessing bravery? TL: Every day, police officers, whether in uniform or detective roles, go the extra mile helping victims of crime, catching criminals, and protecting the public, often at the expense of their own safety and wellbeing. These acts of selflessness become so much the norm for my colleagues, that they themselves do not actually recognise just how brave and heroic their actions are. Many of their actions largely go unreported, with the incident itself becoming the focus and not the steps taken to either apprehend a violent person, protect the public or save lives. Yet the actions of the police officers involved in these incidents can have a hugely significant, and often lifesaving, impact on the public. The Police Bravery Awards allow us the opportunity to recognise these acts of bravery and bring them to the attention of the public, politicians and media, demonstrating the dedication,
professionalism and bravery of police officers across England and Wales.
SH: How do you balance the need for bravery with concerns for officer safety and protocol adherence? TL: Each year at the Police Bravery Awards, we hear those nominated saying they were just doing their job. However, putting their own lives in danger is not simply just doing the job, as there is no expectation that they should place themselves directly in the dangerous situations we see and hear about each year. Yet when it comes to protecting the public or apprehending offenders, time and time again police officers do just that. As police officers, we are all trained in health and safety legislation when dealing with incidents, not just to keep ourselves safe, but to keep others safe too – whether that’s our colleagues, the public and offenders. We have to react quickly, whilst at the same time continuing to assess the risk, threat, protocols, and
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