Officer Struck by Car During Pursuit Honoured for Bravery – Member of Public Also Recognised

13 May 2025

An officer who was hit by a suspect’s car but went on to arrest him has received an Essex Police Federation 2025 Bravery Award, as has the member of the public who assisted him.

On September 6 2023 at around 5.30pm, it was reported that a red Volkswagen Golf had failed to stop at the scene of a collision in Southend. CCTV cameras monitored the vehicle as it travelled along the A127 out of Southend.

PC Daniel Smy and a colleague caught up with the vehicle and pulled their police car in front of it to stop it. The officers got out of their car and went to detain the driver of the Golf, but the suspect suddenly reversed.

The suspect then drove forwards around the police vehicle, hitting PC Smy directly and scooping him up onto the vehicle.

He recalls: “He’s floored it… and I’ve seen him steer towards me. At that second I was like, ‘I’ve either got to try and jump in the air to jump over it or jump on it or literally get dragged under the car. So I kind of jumped in the air, and I’ve landed onto the bonnet.”

PC Smy kept hold of the bonnet to prevent himself falling under the car or hitting other cars either side of him.

“I’ve had to hold onto the bonnet because I’m like, if I let go, I’m being dragged under the car. So I’ve had to pull myself onto the bonnet while he’s speeding off.”

He continued to hold on while the suspect drove away, for around 10-20 metres. When he judged it safe to do so, PC Smy threw himself from the vehicle onto the road and rolled a number of times along the road.

The suspect vehicle was still being monitored by Southend CCTV, and the officers received updates. The officers got back in their car and caught up with the suspect vehicle, which was stuck in traffic.

A member of the public, Anthony Creamer, had seen the Golf hit PC Smy and drive off. He followed the car until it was forced to stop in traffic, then stood in front of the car, preventing the driver from leaving until the officers arrived.

His actions demonstrated extreme bravery and public service in support of the officers doing their job, especially as the suspect had already run an officer over.

When PC Smy arrived, they were able to detain the driver and passenger of the suspect vehicle. They arrested the driver on suspicion of dangerous driving, drug driving, attempted GBH, failing to stop for police, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, and being concerned in the supply of class A drugs.

He was jailed for 18 months.

When PC Smy heard he had been nominated, his first thought was to check whether Mr Creamer had been nominated too. He said: “I wear the uniform, it’s my job to protect the public and to be there. But from watching the CCTV back, Mr Creamer’s literally… sees what happens to me, gets into his car and then follows this car.”

Essex Police Federation Chair Laura Heggie said: “What an incredibly dynamic and dangerous incident this was. This escalated quickly and we are all very thankful that Daniel was not seriously injured.

“He showed tenacity and quick-thinking in continuing to pursue the suspect, even after being hit.

“Mr Creamer also acted incredibly bravely in helping to apprehend the suspect.”

PC Smy and Mr Creamer will attend the 2025 Essex Police Federation Bravery Awards on 15 May. At the event an overall winner or team will be announced, who will travel to London for the National Police Federation Bravery Awards in July.

The Essex Police Federation Bravery Awards are in association with The National Police Healthcare Scheme.

Also sponsoring the awards are Metfriendly, No1 Copperpot Credit Union, Serve and Protect Credit Union, Uniform Mortgages, Police Mutual, Niche, THB Legal, George Burrows and Arc Legal.