Innovation and acts of bravery recognised at annual force awards
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Around 90 officers, staff and volunteers have received awards in recognition of their outstanding commitment and contribution to policing in Gwent.
The awards, held at Bryn Meadows Golf Hotel & Spa on Tuesday 26 November, also saw seven members of the public celebrated for incredible acts of bravery.
Among the award winners were programmes designed to tighten gun licensing to protect victims of domestic abuse to quick-thinking and life-saving interventions from officers.
T/Chief Constable Mark Hobrough said: “Our annual force awards ceremony is an excellent opportunity to celebrate and reflect on what we’ve achieved as individuals and as an organisation.
“Policing is a unique and fantastic profession – it’s a job like no other that comes with its own set of challenges.
“The stories we heard in this award ceremony, and past ceremonies, show the dangerous and traumatic situations our officers face in order to protect the public.
“But we also get to hear how those challenges are overcome, the great community engagement initiatives we’ve introduced and celebrate the unsung heroes in our police staff.
“It is an honour to host these awards and applaud how our officers and staff stand up and deliver every day for our communities in Gwent.”
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Be compassionate |
PSI Scott Thomas |
PSI Thomas gave a reluctant victim of crime the support to engage with the criminal justice process. |
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Be courageous |
PC Patrick Bell |
PC Bell was first on the scene of a dog attack. His quick thinking and calm demeanour not only minimised the potential injuries to the victim also prevented others from getting hurt. |
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Be proud |
PC Nathan Elias PC Alfie Price |
PCs Elias and Price were carrying out enquiries into a missing person who was at risk of violence from their partner. Working with partner agencies, the officers were able to organise the safe return of the victim and implemented ongoing support. |
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Keep learning |
Insp Jodie Davies |
Inspector Jodie Davies has developed a victim-focused assessment tool, a 30-point questionnaire known as Project Titanium, for firearms licensing. Working with a team of two domestic abuse survivors and a criminologist, this pilot tool identifies domestic abuse indicators and perpetrators when applying for firearms licensing, safeguarding victims of domestic abuse and ensuring that unsuitable people are not able to possess firearms legally. |
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Neighbourhood officer of the year |
PCSO Linzi Nicholls |
PCSO Linzi Nicholls has worked tirelessly to set up Community House in Brynfarm, Brynmawr created a safe space for all ages and becoming a trusted member of the community. |
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Outstanding contribution to volunteering |
Special Constable Elise Thomas |
SC Elise Thomas has volunteered more than 600 hours this year while working full time. She has an amazing relationship with her colleagues and never fails to make people smile. |
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Police officer of the year |
PS Dan Wise |
PS Dan Wise has hit the ground running since joining the Blaenau Gwent neighbourhood policing team. Through analysis of the crime information in the area, Dan identified key people having the biggest negative effect on the local community. To address this, he created Operation Greyhawk – a proactive operation aimed at tackling crimes such as carrying weapons, dealing drugs, committing vehicle crime and other acquisitive crimes. |
| Police staff member of the year
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Kenneth Peart |
Kenneth has demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation and determination. He invests in people by recognising their strengths, helping them grow, and ensuring they have a voice that makes them feel valued. He’s conducted a thorough review of the department and developed a plan to tackle issues and deliver an excellent customer service, as well as build a solid foundation for a business unit we can be proud of. |
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Culture |
DI O’Connell DS Angela Hodge DS Andy Roe |
Phil, Angela and Andy have demonstrated a positive attitude and shown superb leadership. Despite the challenges within the department, there has been an increase in the standards of investigation within their teams. |
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Partnership award |
PCSO Clare Montgomery Brown PSCO Mark Watts |
Claire and Mark worked closely with trading standards to tackle the criminal activity related to vaping. They identified premises and individuals involved in the storage and supply of illegal vapes, which resulted in Project Firecrest. Through this work, multiple warrants were obtained and saw the seizure of nearly £2m worth of illegal vapes and tobacco and the closure of several commercial premises. |
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Public Bravery Award |
Rebecca McDonald Lee McDonald |
Rebecca and Lee McDonald came to the aid of a man who had been stabbed. The pair did all they could to help the man and to preserve life prior to the arrival of the emergency services without any hesitation or concern to their own safety. |
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Public Bravery Award |
Dominic Walker Ian Dudley |
Ground maintenance workers Dominic Walker and Ian Dudley were also recognised for their roles in assisting officers with an offender who became violent during an arrest. |
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Public Bravery Award |
Andrew Winstone Ross Goodwin Phillip Turner |
Back in 2022, the three Panteg Bowls Club members helped a young girl, Grace, who had fallen into the water at Fishponds Park and became unresponsive. They rescued her from the water and performed lifesaving first aid until the emergency services arrived. |
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Special Recognition award |
Operational Training Unit |
The team consistently delivers exceptional service, offering high quality training and successful partnership working, delivered with the utmost professionalism.
The trainers are recognised regionally in their field and the taser training has been commended by the chief taser instructor and college of policing. |
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Chief Constable’s Commendation |
PC Garrad Davies PC Thomas Simmonds PC Lewys Kinsey
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In recognition of the bravery and professionalism displayed when rescuing a person from a house fire. This was made especially difficult as the occupant resisted their help. |
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Chief Constable’s Commendation |
DC Connor Edmunds |
For the bravery he displayed when confronted by a violent, armed man.
Despite suffering an injury himself, DC Edmunds bravely disarmed the man, preventing a potentially serious outcome for those present. |
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Chief Constable’s Commendation |
Inspector Hannah Welti PC Lewis James PC Beth Jackson |
These officers led an operation targeting one of the biggest organised crime groups in the region. Their tireless efforts resulted in four principal members of the OCG structure being remanded to court. |
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Chief Constable’s Commendation |
PC Alex Webb |
For the courage he displayed when performing CPR on a very young baby. These kinds of calls are always particularly harrowing, and PC Webb should be proud of the care, compassion and bravery he displayed to both the baby and family. |
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Chief Constable’s Commendation |
PS Mitchell Harris PS Sean Fletcher PC Elliot Morgan PC Kirsty Maddern PC Justin Davies PC David Solomon PC Garrad Davies PC Will Scarrett PC Lee Green PC Michael Price PC Emma Coyle Retired PC Paul Greenwood |
They’re commended for the bravery and professionalism displayed when responding to a suicidal person on a motorway bridge.
They used equipment, including their belts, in dangerous conditions, to safely secure both the person and a member of the public trying to help.
RPSO officers on the ground safely directed four HGVs to strategic locations below the bridge to mitigate any potential fall. |
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Chief Constable’s Commendation |
DS Carrie Streeter PC Emma Lewis
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For the diligence and compassion that they displayed when investigating the historic sexual abuse case of young children. Their determination resulted in a 23-year custodial sentence for the offender. |
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Chief Constable’s Commendation |
PC Elinor Green PC Patrick Bell
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They are commended for their quick actions when responding to a non-responsive man and the compassion they displayed to an extremely distressed woman who was with him. They administered CPR and life-saving medication, which resulted in his full recovery. |
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Chief Constable’s Commendation |
Paul Evans Jodie Stitt Oliver Hughes
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The Business intelligence team undertook a programme of work to improve performance and efficiency. By understanding both business and user needs, they redesigned the business intelligence system and launched Gwent Insights. |