‘Great to get some special recognition’ says Bravery Awards nominee after Downing Street reception

9 July 2026

One of North Yorkshire Police’s three nominees for the Police Bravery Awards has spoken of his delight at attending an exclusive reception with the Home Secretary in London.

PC Alex McGee, along with PCs Mike Halsted and Anthony Grant-Marston, received a nomination for the Bravery Awards for an incredible rescue of a driver trapped on a railway line.

Alex enjoyed a visit to Downing Street ahead of this evening’s ceremony, where he was welcomed into No10 by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Speaking after the reception, he said: “It was really great to be there alongside all the other local winners and nominees and to get some special recognition – not to say that any of us are particularly more deserving than anyone else within our forces, but it is nice to see the government praising the bravery of police officers, whoever that may be.

PC Alex McGee.

“The home secretary was clearly proud to have us there and talk to us.

“She mentioned the humility of police officers and how we very rarely talk about ourselves or demand recognition and instead simply focus on our jobs and what we have to do.

“It was nice to hear that said, because it’s definitely true.”

Looking ahead to proceedings this evening, Alex discussed his pride in making up one third of North Yorkshire’s nomination and paid tribute to his fellow courageous colleagues.

Excited

“I’m enormously excited for the ceremony, where I’ll be proud to represent all three of us,” he said.

“It was a tremendous honour to be nominated locally, and now to be nominated nationally too.

“It will be incredibly humbling to share a room with some absolutely heroic officers.

“Based on some of the stories I’ve heard this morning, I think I’ll be there alongside some amazing company.”

Branch chair Rob Bowles offered his congratulations to Alex, Mike and Anthony, saying: “All three officers deserve huge credit for what they did in such a critical, pressurised incident, which tested them to their policing limits.

Fantastic day

“For that, they have been included in something as special as the Bravery Awards, and I’m pleased that Alex has been able to get down to London and enjoy a fantastic day on behalf of them all.

“We hope they can be successful at tonight’s ceremony, but whatever happens, they have already made us as proud as we could possibly be as a Federation.”