Avon & Somerset Police Federation announce 2026 Inspiration Award

9 October 2026

An officer who hasn’t let losing a leg stop him from doing vital police work and from supporting colleagues has won the Inspiration in Policing Award at the Avon & Somerset Police Federation Recognition Awards.

PC Andrew Glen, who has been a police officer for 27 years, lost his leg to bone cancer in 2019. Despite this, he returned to work on restricted duties and continues to be a key part of his response team.

A colleague said that PC Glen was always someone they could trust and rely on. Although he cannot always attend live incidents, PC Glen assists officers with hard work behind the scenes, including statements, CCTV and building up complicated case files.

PC Glen explained: “I thought I could still bring something to the organisation, with quite a bit of experience. There were a lot of young people on my team at the time, and I thought it would be great to just help them along, and take a bit of the admin burden off them.”

However the officer said it was psychologically challenging to return to work with a prosthetic leg: “It was life-changing. There were a few down times, where you question, ‘What am I doing?’. But I got through all that, and I found that the teamwork and the camaraderie of the shift, that saw me through an awful lot.”

PC Glen said the force had always supported him, helping him adapt and change his working patterns and duties. He gets out and about to support colleagues during the ‘golden hour’ after a crime has been committed, and speaks to victims. He said: “That’s great, because I feel like I'm still out there being a copper, doing the job, and giving somebody probably a little bit better service…it's just trying to fill in where I can.”

When he heard he was receiving an award, he felt “a little bit of guilt”, adding: “I don't think I'm that inspirational. I think I'm just a normal person, who just wants to try and get on with his job. I've set my own little goals in life, to be consistent and solid, and do my bit. I just like the job, I like the variety.”

Avon & Somerset Police Federation Chair Tom Gent said: “What an inspiration Andrew is. He is a valuable member of the team but he never looks for glory. He is an inspiration to all of us to find the positives in life and keep doing the work you love.”

PC Glen will attend the Avon & Somerset Police Federation Recognition Awards 2026 on Thursday 15 October.

The lead sponsor for the Awards is Axon.

Also sponsoring are Serve and Protect Credit Union, Gallagher, Niche, Uniform Mortgages, Accord, Police Friendly, Warren & Co, Ginge Tours, Bluline Health, No1 Copperpot Credit Union and Police Mortgages.