PC Chris Clark was nominated for the awards, organised by the Police Federation of England and Wales, for rescuing a drunken man who tried to run onto a busy dual carriageway.

He joined fellow nominees from forces across England and Wales for the event in the capital.

Speaking after the ceremony, Chris said: “I was very surprised to be nominated as I felt it was  ‘just another day at the office’ and just saw it as doing my job, rather than an act of bravery.

“I had already received a merit award and was aware of a pending Royal Humane Society Award but I was definitely not expecting this nomination, especially when I had seen past nominees’ incidents and what they had been through.

“I honestly felt a bit of a fraud and that I was not worthy of a nomination, especially while watching the regional winners’ video clips.

“Watching these clips I felt quite emotional and felt proud of being part of the policing family, which I haven’t felt for a long time, as that seems to get lost in among all the day-to-day politics of policing nowadays.”

Chris’s trip to London included a morning reception at 10 Downing Street where he spoke to policing minister Kit Malthouse.

“You see it in the news nearly every day but to actually be there, just outside, was surreal enough itself, let alone being invited inside,” said Chris.

“We entered through the door of No 11 where I noticed the day's post on the side addressed to Rishi Sunak, which made it all seem much more real. My partner and I felt extremely privileged.

“Although the Home Secretary was present and gave a speech, I did not get to speak to her. But I was approached by the policing minister, who asked me about my incident.

“The whole experience was a highlight but especially the Tower of London visit and tour the night before the awards and being inside Downing Street.

“And I would like to say a massive thankyou to Suffolk Police Federation chair Darren Harris for looking after us.”

Darren said:  “Chris showed tremendous courage and this was rightly recognised at the awards ceremony. I was really proud to accompany him and his partner to London. He should no way have felt like a fraud.

“What he did was incredibly brave, without hesitation he put his life on the line to help a stranger and that is commendable.”

Chris was put forward for showing “cool-headed professionalism” as he dragged a man to the relative safety of the hard shoulder on the A14 after he tried to run out into heavy traffic.

A scuffle ensued but the officer managed to restrain the man for nearly 11 minutes within feet of the busy road until back-up arrived.

The defendant went to trial and was found guilty of being drunk and disorderly and common assault on an emergency worker.

The annual national Police Bravery Awards honour officers from across England and Wales who have performed outstanding acts of bravery while on or off duty.

Four West Yorkshire Police officers who detained two attackers who murdered a man with a samurai sword were named overall winners at the awards ceremony.

The colleagues were honoured for their professionalism during a horrific incident in January 2020 when they responded to reports of a man being viciously attacked outside a pharmaceutical factory in Huddersfield.

The officers – one of whom was in the first two weeks of her career – were confronted by the barbaric sight of attackers hacking at the victim with a sword and knives when they arrived at the scene. They bravely managed to detain both assailants, despite the offenders still being in possession of the murder weapon and knives.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson praised the “dedication and conscientiousness” of all the nominees and paid tribute to their bravery.

He said: “Acts of bravery in policing are, necessarily and thankfully for us all, commonplace. Every day, local and national media is awash with examples of police heroism.

“Be it confronting dangerous and violent people, rescuing members of the public or working day and night on the most harrowing of cases, bravery is a defining characteristic of the police.

“It is this unflinching bravery, alongside your dedication and conscientiousness, that inspires my steadfast support for the police.

“I am bowled over by the nominees. You are a credit to your forces and your illustrious forebears in policing. I salute each and every one of you.”