Surrey Police officer PC Sean Burridge named as Inspiration in Policing Award winner
15 July 2022
A Surrey Police officer who has dedicated himself to helping officers suffering from mental ill health after being diagnosed with PTSD himself has won the Police Federation of England and Wales’ Annual Inspiration in Policing Award.
PC Sean Burridge was recognised at the annual National Police Bravery Awards for his work supporting officers in Surrey and Sussex Police who are suffering from PTSD or who are suicidal.
He talks about his own experiences, leads support groups, organises training, and works late shifts as a Mental Health First Aider to make sure he’s available when officers are at their most vulnerable.
PC Burridge, a Federation Representative who has worked for the police service for over 20 years, was involved in a 108mph road collision while pursuing a suspect in 2015. Luckily both drivers survived, but Sean was later diagnosed with PTSD.
In March 2020, PC Burridge joined the Wellbeing Team for Surrey and Sussex Police and took on the mental health portfolio, talking with colleagues from both forces about his own experience with PTSD and helping to set up the first UK policing PST Support Group, in Sussex Police. He also coordinates all of the forces’ Mental Health First Aider and Defuser training.
He works a flexi-shift pattern, which means the forces now have a wellbeing presence late in the evening and over the weekends, something they never had before.
PC Burridge also set up the highly acclaimed ‘Smash the Stigma’ webinar series and presented four sessions himself, on topics including men’s health and suicide prevention.
These attracted personal endorsements from both Chief Constables. His latest support initiative is to train Suicide First Aiders across Surrey and Sussex Police.
Former Surrey Police Federation Chair Mel Warnes – now a national PFEW Board Member - said: “Sean’s work phone will often be the first to ring from colleagues seeking support, and on several occasions over the past year this has included colleagues contemplating suicide.
“Sean’s commitment to both forces, while coping with his own mental health struggles, is an inspiration to us all. He fully deserves to gain national recognition by winning this Inspiration in Policing Award and we are all so proud of him.”
The 2022 Police Federation of England and Wales Bravery Awards were held in London on 14 July. The Inspiration in Policing Award, which was first given in 2019, recognises officers who battle adversity and demonstrate moral courage to highlight an issue for the benefit of policing.
