Fed chair proud of Bravery Award winners

23 July 2026

Northamptonshire Police Federation chair Sam Dobbs says he’s proud of the five members who were awarded a Bravery Award after risking their lives in a fatal house fire.

Sergeant Will Barr, PC Brad Bowman, PC Nik Hawke, PC Chris King and PC Lewis Desborough have been recognised for their exceptional courage during the devastating blaze in Rushton on 28 March 2025 in which three people, including a young child, sadly lost their lives.

The officers repeatedly exposed themselves to extreme danger in a desperate effort to save those trapped inside.

They were named regional winners at the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) annual Police Bravery Awards in London.

 

 

Sam said: “I'm immensely proud. I represent 1440 rank and file officers, and these officers do what all our officers do.

“They go out onto the streets, and they don't know what job they're going to. They don't know what's going to happen when they kiss their loved ones goodbye.

“These officers went out that day, and they came across a house fire that had really tragic consequences.

“Despite the risk of knowing the fire service weren’t there yet, they've gone in, and they've done their utmost to save that family.

Regional award

“It is an amazing thing to get a regional award. And speaking to them in preparation for it, they said they almost felt fraudulent for being recognised because it had tragedy in it.

“They said they liked to win and on this occasion, they felt they didn't.

“I'd like to think if I was at risk, they would do the same to save me, and that's what they did, and that's why we should all be proud of them.

“This is what police officers do, in Northamptonshire and up and down the country.”

Speaking after the ceremony, Will and Nik said the incident continues to affect all of the officers.

Overwhelming

Nik said: “We all went in there to do a job, I just wish the family got out of there as well. This award represents the work everyone did on that night.”

Will added: “It’s overwhelming. I don’t think any of us expected to win an award.

“We all acted on instinct, and unfortunately it didn’t pay in our favour, but our thoughts will forever be with that family.”

The officers also spoke about the support they have received from the Force since the incident.

Support

Will said: “After it, I struggled quite a lot. I’m receiving support for PTSD from it.

“I remember saying to my boss at the time that if I go off work now I don’t think I’ll ever come back.

“I was back to work almost straight away, because I just had to deal with it in my own time.”

He added: “I'm a huge advocate for it. I’m someone who never thought I would ever struggle with it, but recently, I’ve just been diagnosed with complex PTSD as well, so I have really gone through the mill with it.

“But I can assure you the support we get is astronomical.”

Bond

Nik said: “I'm one of those people who struggles to ask for support. With my military background, it seems I hold things in a lot but after this, the bond we achieved on that night, we chat about it.

“The help from the Force has been brilliant.

“We were in hospital for 15 minutes before the inspector arrived to make sure we were all okay, and then it’s just continued, to the point that the next morning, we had a message from the Assistant Chief as well.”

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