13 July 2007
Gordon Brown has paid tribute to the bravery of police officers from across the UK.
At a Downing Street reception attended by nominees for the Police Federation Bravery Awards and the families of officers who have lost their lives while at work, he said:
"Today we are celebrating the bravery of so many police officers - people on who we depend, people who risk their lives in the service of the community, people who have done extraordinary actions in support of their fellow citizens…
"They give us not just their time and effort but their service and sometimes their lives. We are so grateful."
Wide-ranging examples of officers’ bravery include the arrest of a gunman by PC Paul Bennett after the officer had been shot in the leg, and PC Alan Poole managing to disarm a man who was threatening women and children with a samurai sword.
PCs Michael O’Hara and Daniel Jones from Merseyside (pictured left) were nominated for tackling an armed and masked man attempting to rob a bookmakers.
While in plain clothes, the officers brought down both the gunman and his accomplice, secured the live firearm and rescued terrified staff and customers.
Nominees PCs Paul Jeffery and Michael Ellis from Devon and Cornwall (pictured left) rescued a distressed young woman as she sat with a knife against her wrist on a harbour wall, in the midst of a force five gale.
The awards, which are sponsored by the Sun newspaper, were established twelve years ago by former Sun editor Stuart Higgins and Fred Broughton of the Police Federation to pay tribute to the unsung heroes of the police service. Police officers are nominated by their colleagues and a panel then decide on eight regional winners and one overall winner.
Watch the Prime Minister thank the police
YouTube video of the Prime Minister’s message for the British Police Federation Bravery Awards.
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