A group of courageous, committed and inspirational Ministry of Defence Police officers are being celebrated by the Defence Police Federation this week at a prestigious ceremony in Southampton this week.
The first ever DPF Awards – which marks the Federation’s 50th anniversary – will also recognise those who have gone over and above to support MOD officers in their time of need.
In all 13 serving officers are being recognised for their work.
Defence Police Federation Chairman Eamon Keating praised all the officers for their exceptional actions, adding that they “exemplified the very best of British policing and we are proud to call them colleagues.”
PC Olly Ley and PC Colin Davison are winning a DPF Bravery Award after they courageously arrested two criminals who were on the run – one having stabbed a man.
Five officers who stopped a man from taking his own life on a New Year’s Eve have won a Defence Police Federation Excellence Award.
Sgt Matthew Loose, PC Andy Lloyd, PC Dean Horton, PC Joe Goodier and PC James Drew were commended for the way in which they dealt with the horrific incident and made sure the man got the care he needed.
PC Calvin Fuller, from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, has also won an Excellence Award after he prevented a man from throwing himself into water from a high bridge.
PC Fuller responded to the 3am incident at Lechlade as Gloucestershire Police colleagues were 45 minutes away from the scene. He spoke to him calmly and compassionately until he could get the man to safety.
An officer who has been the driving force behind disrupting criminal and terrorist activity after increasing the force’s arrest rate as part of Project Servator has also won an Excellence Award.
Sgt Guy Hibbert was the first MDP officer to achieve the specialist national training qualification for Project Servator and he took on an operational role at HMNB Portsmouth to roll out initial deployments for the Force.
Portsmouth-based PC Neil Hunter has been praised for taking on an incredible 730-mile solo ski trek to the South Pole to raise money for Diabetes UK.
PC Hunter, who won a Federation Inspiration Award, raised more than £3,000 on the expedition, despite having insulin-using type two diabetes – making him the first person with the condition to complete the trip unassisted.
PC Kirsty Young is also winning an Inspiration Award after she sailed more than 1,500 nautical miles across the Atlantic to highlight the problem of plastic pollution.
Another Inspiration Award is going to PC Paul Cocoran who organised a charity walk along Hadrian’s Wall to raise the cash for Rifles Care for Casualties.
He raised an incredible £95,000 for the charity which helps members of the Rifles Regimental family who might need support following the regiment’s operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Each of the 200 walkers carried a brick along the route inscribed with the names of those from the regiment who have died or are suffering from PTSD.
The Awards are sponsored by Serve and Protect Credit Union, Uniform Mortgages, Axon, No 1 CopperPot Credit Union, Niche Technology, KM Law, Blackfords and Police Mutual.
The hashtag for the event is #DPFAwards.
