POLICE officers and members of the public have received awards for bravery, their investigative skills, commitment and good work.

Officers are frequently called to help those in distress who are contemplating taking their lives. One such incident, in July 2017, PC Simon Andrews responded to calls that a woman was on the train track at Newquay. She was found hanging over the railings at the top of the 100 ft viaduct. PC Andrews acted quickly and grabbed hold of the woman and, after a brief struggle, managed to pull her to safety — this split second decision almost certainly saved her life. PC Andrews received a Chief Superintendent’s Commendation.

PC Ashley Carhart received the Holman Tray (which is presented to a constable who during the course of duty acted with great courage) for rescuing a colleague and a man, who had overdosed on 100 tablets and a large amount of alcohol, who were hanging off a cliff in Bude. PC Carhart and his colleague found the man on the cliff edge but he told them to leave him alone. The officers requested the lifeboat, coastguard and a negotiator but the man collapsed and was in danger of rolling off the cliff. PC Carhart’s colleague grabbed him to prevent him falling down the 100ft drop and was hanging off the cliff and in incredible danger himself. PC Carhart secured his colleague’s legs to stop him and the man falling over the cliff. They managed to pull the man to safety and he made a full recovery.

A three vehicle collision on the A39 near Helstone, Camelford in September 2017 resulted in a car on fire, one motorist being killed and two being seriously injured. Special Constable Jim Murray and PC Anton Sandercock were among the first at the scene. SC Murray commenced CPR on a woman passenger and was joined by colleagues who took it in turn to carry out CPR whilst the ambulance crew tried to save her husband. The officers were faced with a traumatic situation and were extremely professional in assisting paramedics. Sadly the woman died despite their valiant efforts. The officers received Chief Superintendent’s Commendations.

High on the priorities of Devon and Cornwall Police is the importance of officers connecting with their communities. Cornwall BCU recognises this by awarding an outstanding officer with the Kernow Cup. This year’s winner was PCSO Debra Knowlden who is a champion of local policing in Bodmin, so much so, that numerous residents have written into the force commenting on her outstanding commitment, selfless approach, deep sense of care for all ages and a willingness to go the extra mile for those in need. PCSO Knowlden was pivotal in establishing the town’s Shop Watch scheme, she manages the partnership effectively and visits shop staff on an almost daily basis. She has a caring and empathetic nature which enables her to deliver a high level of service to the most vulnerable in the community visiting them regularly and ensuring they can access agencies that can support them. Her local knowledge is exceptional and invaluable as she uses this to great effect with community engagement and intelligence gathering. She continues to be instrumental in tackling priority crimes such as the supply of illegal drugs and safeguarding the vulnerable. She has built a fantastic relationship with local businesses, community partners and is well-known and liked by the public

A key part of the police family are the community police cadets. One particularly successful group is the Launceston Community Police Cadets and this is attributed to the hard work and dedication of PCs Danielle Hill and Gary Langan, Cadet Leader Nick Pethick and Cadet Daniel Britten. PCs Hill and Langan are former PCSOs who excelled in creating positive relationships with young people based on trust, support and professionalism. PC Hill is an excellent role model who has inspired young adults to achieve their best and fuelled their passions for the police service. PC Langan ensured the cadets had a sense of worth and belonging, not only to the organisation, but to the wider community, with many going on to provide valuable volunteering activities. PC Langan has been involved in the personal development of the cadets ensuring they are given opportunities and support to grow as individuals. Cadet Leader Nick Pethick has been with the Launceston Cadets for over 10 years, firstly as a cadet and for the last eight years as a Volunteer Cadet Leader. Nick has shown his personal skills of reliability, commitment, enthusiasm and professionalism. He has a supportive nature which creates a positive role model for the cadets. He is respected, well liked, and extremely competent, frequently going the extra mile. Cadet Daniel Britten has been part of the group for a number of years and quickly established himself as a very able participant with an enthusiasm for learning practical information. Daniel stands out as a natural leader and often uses his skills to motivate and more importantly support other cadets of various ages and abilities. Superintendent’s Certificates were awarded to Police Cadet Daniel Britten and Cadet Leader Nick Pethick for their skill and professionalism, long service and commitment and to PCs Gary Langan and Danielle Hill for their high level of commitment.

Commander for Cornwall and Isles of Scilly police area, Chief Superintendent James Pearce: “I am very proud and privileged to have these officers working here in Cornwall. The recipients of these awards are just some examples of how much good work goes on by police from across the area. I would like to thank all my officers and staff for the incredible good work they do for the good of the local community. I would also like to thank the local community for the invaluable support they give to the police.”