LOOKBACK
with no thought for their own safety, tending to victims and helping survivors to safety. The conditions were appalling – the heat, smoke, and smell of explosives were suffocating, and there was always the fear of secondary devices. Similarly, City of London Police officers helped manage the chaos in Aldgate, working alongside ambulance and fire crews to rescue the injured and provide comfort to the dying. Many worked tirelessly for over 24 hours straight without rest. The sheer scale and heroism of the police response did not go unrecognised. In the months and years that followed, dozens of officers received commendations and national honours for their courage and professionalism.
SOME OF THE MOST NOTABLE AWARDS INCLUDED: The Queen’s Gallantry Medal (QGM), awarded to several officers who risked their lives to save others. PC Elizabeth Kenworthy of the BTP received the QGM for her actions at Edgware Road, where she entered the bombed carriage, comforted victims, and provided first aid while surrounded by debris and body parts. The George Medal, one of the UK’s highest civilian gallantry honours, was
awarded to PC Martine Wright of the MPS, who was critically injured in the Aldgate bombing and later became a Paralympian, exemplifying resilience and bravery. The Queen’s Commendation for
Bravery, awarded to officers who displayed conspicuous courage during
conversations about PTSD in policing. Chief Constable Paul Crowther, who
“With no confirmation about the nature or scale of the threat, thousands of Metropolitan Police officers flooded central London to restore order, evacuate areas, and protect the public.”
rescue efforts, often entering unstable and dangerous environments to reach those in need. Metropolitan Police and BTP Commendations, which recognised hundreds of officers and staff who played crucial roles during and after the attacks. For many officers, 7/7 left deep psychological scars. The trauma of what they saw – the injuries, the fear, the human suffering – never fully left them. In the years since, there has been growing awareness of the toll such events take on the mental health of emergency workers. Several officers who served on 7/7 later received support through welfare initiatives and counselling services, and the experience helped accelerate national
served with British Transport Police on that day and later became its Chief, described the response as “the finest hour of policing – but one that came at a high personal cost to many.” On the 20th anniversary of the attacks, services of remembrance are being held across the country, most notably at Hyde Park’s 7/7 memorial. Police officers – both serving and retired – are gathering to remember not only the victims of the attacks but also their colleagues who
responded with selfless courage.
SIR MARK ROWLEY, COMMISSIONER OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE, PAID TRIBUTE TO THE LEGACY OF 7/7 RESPONDERS, STATING: “The bravery, professionalism, and humanity shown by our officers on that dark day are part of the very DNA of modern British policing. We honour them not just with words, but by ensuring we carry their legacy into the future.” 7/7 also set in motion a complex period
of transformation within British policing. A new threat had suddenly risen to the forefront. Homegrown terrorism. Perhaps the most shocking element of 7/7 was that the perpetrators were not foreign
41 | POLICE | AUGUST | 2025
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