A roads policing officer has been named Inspiration of the Year winner at the inaugural Avon and Somerset Police Federation Recognition Awards

8 October 2024

A relentless roads policing officer who’s passionate about justice for victims and spreading the message of road safety has been named Inspiration of the Year winner at the inaugural Avon and Somerset Police Federation Recognition Awards.

Sgt Matthew Boiles, from the Roads Policing Unit, is known in his team and beyond as an exceptionally motivated officer, with his Superintendent saying that his dedication and commitment to improving the safety on our roads is “second to none”.

Sgt Boiles has been key in influencing performance within the Roads Policing Unit, leading proactive operations and promoting the unit’s work on social media and radio broadcasts.

He is focused on sharing knowledge throughout the force and with the public, which in turn has improved the level of service provided, as well as helping to reduce road deaths and serious injury.

He is a leader who takes personal responsibility but also ensures high performance and commitment from his own team, and the wider team. He has achieved this at the same time as ensuring that wellbeing and support for all is a fundamental priority.

His Superintendent also noted that Sgt Boiles recently spent a rest day (when he’d originally planned to watch a Bristol City football match) scouring the internet to identify a vehicle that had been involved in a serious collision he’d attended. Due to this hard work, the car was secured for evidence, which led to justice for the victim and their family.

Sgt Boiles said: “I feel really passionately about this job because I want to improve road safety and make people feel safer when they come into Avon and Somerset. It’s also important to be able to provide answers for families and communities about why people have lost their lives or have got seriously injured.

“But it’s also about targeting the criminals who are using our roads. I enjoy the investigation side of the role, and I like going out across the force area every day, and being able to interact with various aspects of the community.”

He added that it was nice to win an award, even though police officers didn’t do their jobs for the recognition. He said: “Most cops are doing the best they can. Sometimes that’s with one hand tied behind their back by constraints or demand. But on the whole we all want to do a good job, and it’s nice to have somebody recognising that.”

Avon and Somerset Police Federation’s Acting Chair, Iain Prideaux, said: “What a well deserving and respected winner of a Recognition Award.

“Matthew is a highly respected roads officer who is passionate about doing everything he can to improve road safety.

“The fact that he has been known to carry out investigations on his rest days emphasises his passion for the role and serving the public.

“Many congratulations from all your colleagues.”

As winner of the Inspiration of the Year Award, Sgt Boiles will attend the Avon and Somerset Police Federation Recognition Awards on Thursday 3 October.

The lead sponsor for the Awards is the ASPF Group Insurance Scheme.

Also sponsoring are Serve and Protect Credit Union, George Burrows, Niche, Uniform Mortgages, Warren & Co, The Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, Accord, The Avon and Somerset Police Benevolent Fund, Pointers Financial and Bluline.

The hashtag for the event is #ASPFAwards.