This in from the police,. Ed
The courage, dedication and determination of some of Hampshire Constabulary’s most inspiring officers were celebrated at a special award ceremony.
Officers from all ranks within the force were honoured following their acts of bravery and professionalism to protect others and make life safer for everyone living in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.
The Chief Constable’s Awards are a chance for us to recognise excellent police work, as well as the courageous acts of members of the public who have taken action to protect others.
Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney had the honour of presenting the awards at the ceremony in Netley.
The ceremony was also a chance to celebrate the bravery of officers and members of the public who have been recognised by the Royal Humane Society.
Chief Constable Pinkney said:
“Hearing the inspiring stories of my officers and members of the public makes me feel very proud to serve Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
“Every day our officers are out there, serving our communities, never knowing what they will face and these examples we have heard today just goes to show the dangers they can be confronted with and how lucky we are to have people who are willing to stand up for what is right.
“It is my honour to recognise these acts of professionalism, courage and dedication which have saved lives, protected our homes and supported those who are most in need.
“It is encouraging to know that there are so many people within our force and within our communities who are committed to making Hampshire and the Isle of Wight a better place to live and work.”
Chief Constable Congratulations
Assistant Chief Officer Nicole Cornelius
Hampshire Police Federation Chairman PC John Apter
C/Supt Scott Chilton
Melanie Williams
John Montague
Assaults on officers should never be an accepted or expected part of the job. And thanks to this dedicated team, Hampshire Constabulary has become internationally known as the force that is setting the gold standard when it comes to tackling the issue.
Led by John Apter, chairman of the Hampshire Police Federation, the initiative to ensure better support for officers who are assaulted while on duty and tougher punishments for those who attack our officers, has received national and international acclaim.
Since the launch of the project two years ago the project has seen the force improve investigation standards for cases where officers have been assaulted, improved welfare and improved working relationships with other agencies, such as the Crown Prosecution Service.
The group has also commissioned some research, jointly with the College Of Policing, looking into the details of assaults.
This will give us valuable information, which will help us to improve officer safety, improve training and better understand the nature of assaults on our staff.
So far, 35 forces across England and Wales have adopted the work started in Hampshire.
Police Scotland is now looking at it with a view to introducing something similar, St Helena in the Ascension Islands has adopted the plan, and the Canadian police are looking at working with the research team.
It is clear from officer and staff feedback that a very positive and tangible difference has been made.
Ms Julie Welling, Jacob Gates and Rebecca Bruce-Witchall
She may not have been on duty but this district nurse didn’t hesitate when the life of a teenager was hanging in the balance.
Having seen a 13-year-old boy being dragged from water by Rebecca Bruce-Witchall and Jacob Gates, at Sandown beach, Isle of Wight, Julie Welling ran over to assist.
The teenager had gone underwater several times but she knew exactly what to do.
She put him in the recovery position and made sure he coughed up the water, getting him to breathe again.
The teenager eventually made a full recovery following the incident in July 2014.
Jacob Gates and Rebecca Bruce-Witchall have both been awarded an RHS Testimonial on Parchment Certificate. Ms Welling has been awarded an RHS Commendation Certificate.
Dennis Fischer and Luzardi Fischer
This couple showed immense bravery when faced with a burglar in their home in Andover in June.
Mrs Fischer rang 999, while Mr Fischer went downstairs to find a man standing by the front door holding various electrical items.
He followed the man who then became very agitated.
Remaining calm, Mr Fischer spoke with him, telling him that the police had been called and offered him some money if he gave the items back.
They went back to the house and put the items inside.
At this point Mr Fischer saw a police car approaching and grabbed hold of the man’s arm and calmly said “just take it easy, it is over now”. The man was arrested without incident and he was charged with burglary.
He was sentenced to a community order.
Luzardi Fischer has been awarded a Chief Constable Congratulations for acting calmly while her house was being burgled and because her swift actions in contacting the police resulted in a prolific offender being caught.
Dennis Fischer has been awarded a Chief Constable Congratulations for his bravery following a man suspected of burgling his home. His calm and compassionate manner when speaking with this man prevented him from turning violent and created valuable time to enable the police to arrive and arrest him.
Chief Constable Commendations
PCSO Addison Maker, PCSO James Harry and PCSO Tammi Ley based at Park Gate.
If anyone ever doubted the value of PCSOs this example of bravery and dedication would make them think again.
These three PCSOs demonstrated exemplary dedication to duty when they detained a violent, wanted criminal as he was carrying out a burglary in Locks Heath, in January.
The trio responded to a suspected break-in and on arrival they found the suspect leaving Admirals Road carrying a bag.
PCSO James Harry and PCSO Addison Maker were first on the scene and tried to detain him, which resulted in both being assaulted.
The suspect ran off into the path of PCSO Tammi Ley who pulled him down from a wall and sat on him.
She was joined by the other two, despite them both suffering nasty injuries.
They kept hold of him until response and patrol officers arrived.
The suspect, Glen Boswarthack, posed a significant threat, with a long and violent offending history and had everything to lose if caught.
However, despite this intimidating and frightening confrontation, these three PCSOs did not waver in their dedication to their duty.
Their action far exceeds that of their role or the expectations of them.
Boswarthack pleaded guilty in court and asked for 14 other offences to be taken into consideration and was sentenced to 32 months in prison.
They have been awarded a Chief Constable Commendation for dedication to duty and perseverance in chasing and detaining a violent prolific offender.
Royal Humane Society Awards
PC Kevin White and PC Phil Dennett – response and patrol officers from Hedge End
The actions of these officers saved a man’s life.
They were called to a concern for welfare call in July 2015, where a man had said he was suicidal.
When the officers first found him in woodland in Eastleigh, it seemed as though the man had already died.
However, they noticed the smallest of movements and quickly sprung into action, getting the man down safely and starting CPR.
PC White and PC Dennett carried this out for 20 minutes until paramedics arrived.
They have both been awarded the RHS Resuscitation Certificate.
PC Andrew Sparshott – from the Joint Operations Unit
The call of duty can come at any time and this officer literally leapt into action to save a man’s life even though he was enjoying a day off work.
PC Andrew Sparshott was off duty when he went along to a fundraising aviation event at Sandown Airport in September 2014.
Just an hour after arriving he noticed a man lying on the ground and quickly realised he was desperately ill.
PC Sparshott ran 200 yards and jumped over a fence to get to the man who was in full cardiac arrest.
The off-duty officer immediately assessed the man’s airway and started CPR.
During the 15 minutes before paramedics arrived, the man had lost consciousness and been resuscitated by PC Sparshott three times.
It is without doubt that the actions of PC Sparshott that day is the reason that man is alive today.
PC Andrew Sparshott has been awarded the RHS Resuscitation Certificate.
PC Michael Langridge and PC Lauren Miller – response and patrol officers from Portswood
These two officers from Portswood were about to head back to the station having dealt with a concern for welfare when they heard cries for help.
Racing over to the neighbouring address in Southampton, they found a man unconscious and not breathing, having choked on a piece of food.
Without hesitation they performed the Heimlich manoeuvre which dislodged some of the food but the man till wasn’t breathing.
So they started CPR and resuscitated him.
The officers have undoubtedly saved the man’s life through their actions and this was commented upon by the ambulance crew.
PC Langridge and PC Miller have been awarded the RHS Resuscitation Certificate.
PC Ralph Akehurst – response and patrol officer from Hedge End
This officer from Hedge End put his own life at risk to save the life of an autistic teenager.
In November 2014, PC Ralph Akehurst was the first officer on the scene following a report of a young man hanging on the wrong side of the railway bridge over the very busy Redbridge Flyover.
When he arrived the boy was hanging on by his hands, so he grabbed his wrists, at which point the teenager let go and was only being held by PC Akehurst.
Slowly, he was able to pull the boy back over the rails.
A passing off duty officer said that PC Akehurst was almost pulled over the rails himself.
PC Akehurst has been awarded the RHS Testimonial on Parchment Certificate.
PC Shaun Brennan and PC Linda Davies – response and patrol officers from Cosham
Both officers from Cosham were instrumental in reviving a three-year-old boy who was in cardiac arrest when they were called to an incident in July 2015.
On arrival PC Shaun Brennan and PC Linda Davies found the child father attempting CPR, so took over immediately and continued until the paramedics arrived, at which point the boy took a breath.
PC Davies did the chest compressions and PC Brennan held the child’s head in the right position to ensure an open airway.
Both officers have been awarded the RHS Resuscitation Certificate.
PC Samantha Forster and PC Sam Hatcher – response and patrols officers from Portswood
When confronted with a man trapped underneath a car in Shirley, these two officers didn’t think twice about their own safety and took action to give him the best possible chance of survival.
Despite the man being completely hidden by the car, PC Samantha Forster managed to get to him, found a weak pulse and did what she could to administer first aid.
As she did this, PC Hatcher made the area safe and was able to instruct the fire service when they arrived so they were in position to lift the car within seconds of their arrival.
Even with the fire service there, PC Hatcher took control of the situation and everyone knew exactly what they needed to do.
With the help of several firemen and members of the public, the car was lifted just enough for the two officers to physically drag the man from under it.
By this point there was no pulse and he was not breathing but the two officers made the decision to start CPR without delay.
They continued CPR for about 30 minutes while paramedics arrived and administered other medical treatment.
There was no pulse and the male was not breathing for the whole duration.
To the disbelief of paramedics, when they put him in the ambulance he started to make efforts to breathe for himself.
Had it not been for the actions of these officers, the outcome of this collision in March 2015, would most definitely have been very different.
PC Forster and PC Hatcher have both been awarded the RHS Resuscitation Certificate and a Commendation on Parchment Certificate.
