2025 POLICE BRAVERY AWARDS
AVON AND SOMERSET Inspector James McKenna risked his life to save passengers from a smoking car that smelt of fuel after it was involved in an accident. Whilst travelling to work on the M4 motorway on 26 March 2024, Insp McKenna became aware of a road traffic incident that had just happened. There had been a collision between a car and a lorry. The driver and front seat passenger had managed to get out of the car and, as Insp McKenna approached the vehicle, he could see a teenage girl behind the front passenger seat and a young boy trapped behind the driver’s seat. Other members of public at the scene advised Insp McKenna the girl and boy were already dead, but he made the quick decision he needed to attempt to save their lives. The car was smoking and there was a distinct smell of fuel with a risk of fire. Insp McKenna managed to extract the girl and get her away from the vehicle. He immediately returned to the vehicle to attend to the boy who was trapped. Insp McKenna climbed into the rear of the vehicle and after a few minutes, managed to free him from the vehicle. The boy was unconscious and not breathing so Insp McKenna immediately commenced CPR for 10 minutes before other police officers arrived to assist him. Air ambulance helicopters arrived at the scene and took over the treatment of the young boy who sadly passed away at the side of the road.
BEDFORDSHIRE PC Rob Creighton held on to a dangerous suspect through the window of a moving vehicle, preventing him from escaping. PC Creighton was on duty in Luton conducting proactive patrols when he and his colleagues sighted a suspicious vehicle. After a short time, the vehicle came to a stop, and officers suspected they were witnessing a drug deal take place. He walked over to the vehicle while it was stationary with the intention to detain and search the occupant. While attempting to detain the driver, the vehicle sped off,
carrying PC Creighton along. The vehicle travelled over 700 meters with PC Creighton unable to let go due to the speed, resulting in him being flung in the air level with the vehicle’s roof at times. PC Creighton then attempted to stop the vehicle by removing the keys while it was in motion, causing it to lose speed and crash. At this point, two individuals fled from the vehicle armed with knives, and the driver also tried to escape. While holding onto the driver, PC Creighton noticed another
large knife inside the vehicle. He managed to detain the suspect on his own until support arrived. PC Creighton’s arrest led to the seizure of weapons, Class A drugs, and the recovery of a stolen motor vehicle, as well as the arrest of a prolific and priority offender.
CAMBRIDGESHIRE PC Eden McClymont single- handedly detained a prolific offender, despite being assaulted and injured. On 13 October 2024, PC McClymont was at the Co-op at Mayors Walk in Peterborough regarding a crime enquiry, taking a statement from staff. Soon after she observed on the CCTV monitor prolific offender Dane O’Callaghan, concealing items under his jacket.
PC McClymont, who did not know O’Callaghan at the time, confronted him on the shop floor, and he denied stealing any items, prompting the officer to conduct a stop search. Nothing was found on him, suggesting he had quickly discarded the items, and O’Callaghan provided false details that could not be confirmed, leading PC McClymont to arrest him for attempted theft from the shop. As O’Callaghan moved towards the exit, PC McClymont
stopped him by taking hold of his right arm. He violently resisted, and during the struggle, he punched her repeatedly in the head. Despite the assault, she maintained her hold on him and deployed PAVA spray, subduing O’Callaghan and handcuffing him. The defendant continued to kick out and resist. Staff at the location intervened to assist PC McClymont, calling 999, as no immediate assistance arrived. O’Callaghan grabbed and removed the officer’s radio during the assault, preventing the activation of the emergency button.
Once other officers arrived at the scene, O’Callaghan was
taken into police custody. PC McClymont sustained injuries but showed remarkable resilience and determination as a student officer facing a violent individual alone.
CHESHIRE PC Jack O’Neill and his colleague, who wishes to remain anonymous, expertly handled a fast-moving situation involving a dangerous man who attacked them with an axe and a knife On 16 April 2024, Cheshire
Police officers responded to reports of a neighbour dispute in Widnes. The duo heard the call and headed to the address, whilst being updated the man was now inside his flat with his partner and had multiple weapons. When they arrived at the flat, the man’s partner opened the
door and told them: “He is upstairs with an axe and is going to slit his throat”. Without hesitation, PC O’Neill and his colleague entered
the flat with Tasers drawn and went up the stairs. His teammate reached the top first and the suspect immediately tried to attack him with an axe and a knife. PC O’Neill’s colleague deployed his Taser, which made the man fall backwards but did not take full effect. The man stood up again, still swinging the axe and knife towards him, missing him by just inches. Luckily, he managed to move out of the way, before deploying his Taser again; this time it made contact, and the
17 | POLICE | JUNE | 2025
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