2023 BRAVERY NOMINATIONS


Consequently, the officers utilised personal safety equipment effectively, ensured the safe detention and arrest of the individual, and the successful recovery of the knife.


WARWICKSHIRE A team of officers helped save a man who had locked himself inside his house and doused himself in petrol. On 17 September last year, a call was


made to police from a male stating he had poured the flammable liquid over his body and was intending to harm himself. PCs Hollie Dewar, Lauren De Lancey and Max Jordan and Temporary Sergeant Gareth Crandon were deployed to the scene. The officers had little information about the occupants at the address, because they had only moved there recently from abroad.


The man declined to give them


details of his location and control room staff had to quickly identify where to send the officers. Upon arrival, the officers used their communication skills to locate his family and try and help the man who had locked himself in his garage. At this point the situation escalated and the officers could hear a lighter clicking.


Concerned for his safety and his family’s, officers broke into the property before negotiators arrived to calmly talk the vulnerable man down. With officers now face-to-face with the man, he poured more fuel over himself


and began to click the lighter. The negotiators and accompanying officers were withdrawn and the plan to enter with the Fire and Rescue Service was put in motion with paramedics on standby. Covered in petrol and still holding the lighter, the fire crew doused him in water, and he was restrained by officers safely and detained.


WEST MERCIA An officer jumped into a fast-flowing river and saved a man’s life, with no regard for his own.


PC Chris Rogers, while guarding a scene at Greyfriars Bridge, Herefordshire, on 21 June last year, saw a man jump into the river from a 25-metre high bridge before landing face down. The male appeared to be unconscious in the water. The river was fast-flowing and murky and he had no idea of the hazards and debris under the water, but time was critical as hypothermia was setting in rapidly. Without hesitation, PC Rogers selflessly decided to enter the


icy water and wade over to administer urgent first aid. Using all his strength, he lifted the man from the river and


41 | POLICE | JUNE 2023


dragged him onto the riverbank where he commenced chest compressions and urgent CPR. By this point, backup had arrived and assisted with the


administration of further first aid until medical professionals arrived. The victim was taken to hospital by ambulance. Despite the height of the fall and the fact he was unresponsive, all he suffered were facial injuries.


He made a full recovery thanks to the efforts of PC Rogers, whose decisive actions and courage saved a life.


WEST YORKSHIRE An off-duty officer detained two knife-wielding suspects who were heading to an organised street brawl. PC Aynsley Ward was at a restaurant with her family last year on 28 April in Shipley, West Yorkshire.


She saw two young males walking past, brandishing large


kitchen knives, and called 999 to report the situation. Wanting to take them off the streets as quickly as possible,


PC Ward followed the suspects and before she knew it , she was face-to-face with one of them. With no personal protective equipment, she skilfully restrained him before removing the bladed weapon from his possession. While doing so, the second suspect confronted her, but the outnumbered officer swiftly managed to detain him with the assistance of a member of the public. PC Ward removed another large knife from their possession and kept the situation under control until uniformed officers arrived. Had she not done this, the officers in attendance would have been significantly outnumbered, owing to a volatile crowd that was gathering. There were approximately 15 people present, who had gathered for an organised fight. Instead of going back to her family meal, PC Ward attended the local police station, completed a thorough statement, and uploaded mobile phone footage of the incident.


PC Matt Dodd of Sussex Police


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60