Police officers who have demonstrated outstanding acts of bravery – including confronting terrorists, tackling murderers and rescuing people from freezing waters – will be honoured next month at the 23rd annual Police Bravery Awards.

A ceremony to recognise their exemplary acts, hosted by the Police Federation of England and Wales and sponsored by Police Mutual, will take place in London on 12 July 2018.

During the event the winners from each of the eight police regions will be unveiled along with the overall winner/s.

Some of the remarkable feats of bravery exhibited by this year’s nominees include officers who:   

• Rushed towards danger to help and protect others during the Westminster Bridge and Borough Market terrorist attacks
• Battled through a burning building to rescue the people inside
• Pushed a suicidal woman out of the path of an oncoming train with seconds to spare
• While off duty, confronted a knife-wielding murderer in a busy city street
• Prevented a suicidal man from jumping from a motorway bridge
• Disarmed a man who had pointed a double-barrelled shotgun at them

Last year’s winners were PS Elliott Richardson, PC Sarah Currie and PC Michael Otterson from Northumbria Police. The trio were honoured after they managed to disarm and a mentally ill man with a history of violence who had set a trap for police officers intending to shoot them.

Federation Chair Calum Macleod said:

“The Police Bravery Awards is one of the highlights of the year for me. It is always an honour and a privilege to highlight the extraordinary actions of these officers and to pass on the thanks of the whole police family, and members of the public, for their incredible bravery. The nominees exemplify the very best of British policing.

“This year’s awards are especially poignant as we reflect on two of the terrorist attacks which our country has suffered in the past year. Hundreds of officers from the Metropolitan and City of London forces ran towards the unknown dangers they presented, several of them are included in our nominees, and one PC Keith Palmer GM - who is of course also nominated - tragically paid the ultimate price protecting others.

“I am truly humbled and proud to be able to reflect and recognise their actions.

“We are only able to showcase the actions of a small number of officers at this event but I must stress that they represent a tiny proportion of the thousands of amazing acts of bravery police officers undertake day in day out serving their communities.

“Each nominee is a credit to their force, their family, the police service, and society as a whole and I am pleased to be able to pay them the tribute they deserve.”

Stephen Mann, CEO of Police Mutual said:

“Police Mutual is very proud to be supporting the Police Bravery Awards for the 10th consecutive year. All those who have been nominated should be proud of themselves and their achievements. When it mattered most, they stepped up. They  proved that their commitment to keeping the public safe did not waver, even when tested in the most trying of circumstances. At Police Mutual, my colleagues and I are deeply honoured to be able to show our appreciation for their bravery in keeping us safe.”

For full details on the Bravery Awards and of the nominees and their remarkable stories can be found on our Bravery Awards page from Tuesday 19 June 2018 or please click here