A medically retired officer with PTSD who has become a passionate mental health advocate has received the Compassionate Cop Award at the 2026 Devon and Cornwall Police Federation Recognition Awards.

Hannah Cooper joined Devon and Cornwall Police 6 years ago from the Metropolitan Police, where she had served since she was 18. However, over the years, the cumulative trauma of the job adversely affected her mental health and last year she came close to taking her own life.

Hannah was diagnosed with complex PTSD and was able to access psychiatric support, which she says saved her life. She was medically retired from the police earlier this year, and she says her experience showed her exactly where the gaps in mental health support are.

 
She wanted to help other people in the emergency services access professional and peer support, so she set up a community interest company called Silence Between Sirens (silencebetweensirens.com), and wrote a book of the same name.

 
Hannah explained: “I’m putting myself out there, making people realise that they're not alone in their struggles, because I felt extremely alone during mine. I thought if I could build a community where people recognise that their struggles aren't isolated and there is a safe space for them, then then that would be incredible. And it grew and grew and grew – it's over 8,000 people now.

 
“Then I started selling some T-shirts and patches, so that people can wear them on their stabbies or put them on their bag, and show up as a safe space. I've sold over 600 of those. All the profit from that I put into doing suicide prevention training.”

Silence Between Sirens aims to break the stigma on poor mental health and suicide within the emergency services and build a community so that those who are struggling never feel alone. Its fundraising goes towards putting on online and in-person events and support services.

 
Hannah is also outspoken about mental health issues on social media, where she raises awareness of the toll of policing and other emergency service jobs. Her posts and videos receive thousands of views and she is working with forces and organisations across the country.

She also started a petition to the Government for mandatory recording of suicides among emergency services staff. In the petition, she wrote: “Without mandatory recording, I believe the true scale of suicides among emergency service staff is hidden, patterns are missed, and opportunities to prevent deaths are lost.” The petition has received over 14,500 signatures and has received a response from the Department of Health and Social Care. “Things are starting to change,” Hannah said.

She added: “There’s a massive element of turning pain into purpose – that's essentially my focus now. I can just try and put what I can into helping others now, within the service.” When she heard she had won a Federation Award, she said: “I was a little taken aback, but it means a lot.”

Devon and Cornwall Police Federation Chair Katie Clements said: “Hannah is a powerful advocate for mental health in policing and other emergency services, and her message has achieved traction at the highest levels.

 
“She is helping people every day, all while continuing to live with complex PTSD. We are all incredibly proud of the important work she is doing, which will help save lives.”

Hannah will attend the 2026 Devon and Cornwall Police Federation Recognition Awards on 1 October 2026.

The Devon & Cornwall Police Federation Recognition Awards are in association with Axon.

Also sponsoring the Awards are Niche, Uniform Mortgages, Gallagher, Serve and Protect Credit Union, Warren & Co, The National Police Healthcare Scheme, THB Legal, Police Mortgages, Bluline Health, Accord and No1 Copperpot Credit Union.