Student officer honoured to be nominated for national bravery award

21 May 2025

A student officer says she is ‘shocked’ and ‘honoured’ to represent Suffolk Police Federation at the national Bravery Awards.

PC Eva Palmer had been a Suffolk Police officer for 11 months, and independent for just two-and-a-half months, when she tackled an offender who had been brandishing a large knife at a free family music event.

Eva’s priority was to ensure public safety as the incident unfolded in the early evening of Saturday 13 July.

She said her training kicked in as she chased the offender through crowds of festival-goers and along busy streets in Ipswich town centre before detaining him.

“I remember the day vividly,” she said.

Danger

“It happened very early on, but it’s something I think I’ll remember for the rest of my career.

“In training school it was something they spoke a lot about, in terms of police officers running towards danger where others might not.

“That day it felt very real. It made me realise that this was my job now and I needed to do something.”

Now Eva has been nominated to represent Suffolk Police Federation at the Police Bravery Awards in London this summer.

She said: “It was a real shock to be nominated but I feel really honoured.

 

PC Eva Palmer.

 

“It feels surreal because I didn’t expect it at all.”

The day of the Bravery Awards includes a Downing Street reception for all of the police officers from across England and Wales who have been nominated.

Eva said: “I’m taking my mum, which will be really nice.

“She is very proud and is really looking forward to it.

“I’ve never been to Downing Street before, it’s going to be a really good experience to share with my mum.”

Awards ceremony

The reception is followed by an awards ceremony, and Eva said it promises to be a fantastic occasion.

Eva added: “I’m really looking forward to sharing the evening with officers from across the country and hearing their stories.

“It will be amazing to hear about their experiences.”

Suffolk Police Federation chair Darren Harris praised Eva’s actions on the day as he wished her well for the awards.

He said: “Despite being young in service, Eva showed immense courage and a lot of initiative to track an offender who was wielding a large knife.

Selflessly

“It was a fast-moving situation with lots of people on the streets enjoying the music festival and a summer evening.

“Eva acted selflessly and in accordance with her training to protect the public and safely disarm the offender until support could get to her.

“This incident underlines the dangers that police officers face every day in their jobs, running towards danger when others might run away.

“We’re extremely proud of Eva and her actions, which brought a potentially dangerous situation to a swift and decisive conclusion.

“On behalf of the Federation branch wish her well at the awards.”

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