Police Bravery Awards: Derbyshire officer celebrated at ceremony

11 July 2025

The 2025 national Police Bravery Awards honoured heroic police officers, including Derbyshire Police’s PC Matt Thomas.

Matt received a nomination for the Bravery Awards, which was held in London, after he rescued a vulnerable elderly woman from drowning in the Ladybower Reservoir last winter.

Earlier in the day, Matt attended an exclusive reception in the Foreign Office with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, which he enjoyed alongside his partner, Jessica.

He said: “It was a fantastic day all-round – one that is difficult to put into words, but definitely a proud moment and something I’ll remember for a long time.

“It was very nice to speak to other officers from different areas of the country and hear about their own stories and nominations.

“To share this day with them was a privilege, because we all share this same profession and all we are trying to do is serve the public in the best way we can.”

 

Derbyshire Police PC Matt Thomas and branch chair Lisa Flanagan

Branch chair Lisa Flanagan looked back on the ceremony and expressed her pride at Matt’s achievements.

“This was my first Bravery Awards as chair of Derbyshire Police Federation. What a spectacular and humbling day of events it was," said Lisa.

"The sense of pride and honour could be felt from the moment we arrived at Downing Street earlier in the day. The entire day and evening was a celebration of policing, it really was very special.

Privileged

"I feel extremely privileged to be able to share the day with Matt, Jessica and workplace rep Bec Smith, who also attended the ceremony.

“Matt certainly deserved his place there. It was great to see him enjoying the experience with his partner Jessica.

“I’d also like to take this occasion to thank all our Federation members for the incredible work they do in our profession every day – you all deserve acknowledgement, and you will never go unnoticed by me.”

Chief Constable Rachel Swann and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Nicolle Ndiweni also attended the event.

Matt was part of the Region 4 category, which was won by Leicestershire Police’s nominees.

Bravery Awards winners

This year’s overall winners of the Bravery Awards were Sergeant Gregory Gillespie, PC Luke Holden and PCSO Timothy Parry, from Merseyside Police.

The trio confronted and detained Axel Rudakubana after he killed three children at a dance class in Southport on Monday 29 July 2024.

Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) chair Tiff Lynch welcomed guests with a speech introducing the purpose behind the Bravery Awards.

“Police officers across England and Wales step forward each day with unwavering dedication, never knowing what challenges they may face,” she said.

“In the face of uncertainty, danger and adversity they act with courage and professionalism – not for accolades or applause, but because they truly believe in their duty to protect others.

“Tonight, as we celebrate the 30th Police Bravery Awards, we come together to recognise those whose actions have gone far beyond what is expected.”

Following this, the Home Secretary had her own words of appreciation for nominees, saying: “We often talk about the way in which you have to run towards danger when the rest of us get to walk away – but you also have to run towards the trickiest and most difficult situations that the rest of us can't solve, and when everybody else has given up, it's you that have to pick up the pieces.

Huge thank you

“So, I just wanted to say a huge thank you, because we owe you a huge debt of gratitude for being the ones we call when everything else has gone wrong.

“I want to thank you too in relation to the impact and the consequences that this can have for all of you, because there's a price to be paid for doing such a difficult job.”

Ms Cooper went on to briefly mention Matt’s heroics when she discussed ‘stories of total selflessness, where we’ve had people trapped in burning buildings or freezing waters with no hope of survival, until our police officers came running to their rescue’.

Also present at the ceremony was Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson DBE, who said: “To every single nominee – you deserve all the plaudits and praise you receive. Regardless of whether you won or not, I hope you are all feeling incredibly proud of yourselves. For all that you have done and continue to do, thank you.”

Guests were then honoured with a video message from Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Skill, service, and sacrifice

“On behalf of our whole country, I want you to know we appreciate your skill, your service, and your sacrifice – not just today, but always," he said. 

“Tonight, soak up the atmosphere, revel in the praise that you so deserve, and most of all, be proud of what you’ve achieved.

“You are a credit to yourselves, your families, your forces, and our country. Thank you for everything you do.”

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