Special reflects on ‘surreal’ bravery awards celebration

15 July 2024

Suffolk Police Federation secretary Ben Hudson (left) with bravery award nominee Special Constable Kyle Scott at the national Police Bravery Awards.

Federation member Kyle Scott says it was a ‘big shock’ to discover he was the first ever Special Constable to be solely nominated for a national Police Bravery Award.

Kyle, who attended Thursday’s annual awards ceremony in London along with his brother Ashley, said the whole day was ‘very surreal’.

He was nominated for an award after risking his life, as he saved an unresponsive woman from freezing cold waters in March 2023.

His bravery earned him a place in history as the first Special ever to be solely recognised with a nomination.

“The whole day has been very surreal,” said Kyle, who narrowly missed out on the Region 4 award to a Lincolnshire officer.

“This is the first time I’ve ever been to London on this scale. I’m 26 and - living in sleepy Suffolk - I don’t come to cities very often.”

‘Privileged’

Commenting on news that he is the first-ever Special to be solely nominated for the national bravery awards, Kyle said: “Until this morning, I didn’t know that, so it was a big shock to the system when I heard. 

“I’m really privileged to be a member of the Federation, I think all Specials should be, they are there to protect us and look out for us when we need them.”

Federation secretary Ben Hudson attended the event, together with Deputy Chief Constable Rob Jones.

“We are absolutely delighted that Kyle has been our nominee this year,” said Ben,“We have 100 per cent sign up [to the Federation] by Specials at Suffolk, the Chief Constable is 100 per cent behind Specials and our PCC [Police and Crime Commissioner] pays for their membership. So if any Force was going to be the first to have a Special solely nominated, it would be us.”

Ben said the annual event was his ‘favourite day of the year’.

Honoured

He continued: “This is everything that encapsulates all that is so good about policing. 

“Officers get to go to Downing Street and they get to meet the Home Secretary. They get to be in London and celebrate the best of British policing.

“When everyone else runs away, we run forwards. It’s an honour every year to be here - to be humbled by the stories. These officers are the best of us in every single way.”

The awards ceremony, which was the 29th of its kind, kicked off with an introduction from the acting chair of hte Police Federation of Englan and Wales, Tiff Lynch. 

She said: “Tonight, we will hear extraordinary stories of bravery. Officers who will say, ‘it’s just part of the job’, but it’s not just part of the job it’s going above and beyond the requirements of the job, and tonight we get the chance to recognise and thank those officers.”

The new Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, and the recently appointed policing minister, Dame Diana Johnson DBE were also in attendance. The duo had welcomed all nominations to Downing Street for an exclusive reception that morning, ahead of the evening awards ceremony. 

Inspirational

Addressing the audience, Ms Cooper, who revealed it was the 14th Police Bravery Awards she had attended, said: “The reason I’ve attended so many Police Bravery Awards is because I think it’s so important to respect and recognise the work you do. 

“And because the stories are always so inspirational, often so difficult, the incredibly difficult situations you have faced. 

“The extreme violence that you will have had to work towards, the dangerous rescues that so many of you have undertaken.”

She thanked the officers present, as well as those across the county and the partners, relatives and families of officers whose support ‘makes the work they do possible’.

Later on in the evening, Dame Diana also thanked all officers in the room.

“To you and all your colleagues, for what you do to keep the public safe, thank you. I was struck by the impressive people you are. A phrase that stuck out for me is ‘forever going into the unknown’.

“Your families must be so proud of you. I am so proud of you. To those here tonight, be proud of what you do. It could not matter more.”

Winners

The ceremony was hosted by TV presenter Mark Durden-Smith, with Strictly Come Dancing star Kai Widdrington also in attendance.

The overall winners on the night were a pair of Met officers, PCs Alannah Mulhall and Joe Gerrard, who were stabbed multiple times while protecting members of the public in Leicester Square in the capital.

The annual event is organised by the Police Federation of England and Wales and is sponsored by Police Mutual.

READ MORE: Federation keen to meet county MPs.