Rachel recognised at Police Bravery Awards
15 July 2022
A West Mercia Police officer who saved the life of a woman threatening to jump from a bridge over a dual carriageway has been honoured at the national Police Bravery Awards.
PC Rachel Paterson attended a special reception at 10 Downing Street with fellow nominees from across the country before heading to a central London hotel for the awards ceremony. She was accompanied to the awards by her partner Ashley Ford, a serving officer at Telford.
The Downing Street event was hosted by Home Secretary Priti Patel who praised the nominees for the “incredible courage” they had shown.
Rachel and partner Ashley with Chief Constable Pippa Mills, Federation chair Sarah Cooper and Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion at the awards ceremony.
Rachel was shortlisted for the prestigious awards for her brave and quick-thinking actions when she was the first to arrive on the scene in Telford to find a woman threatening to throw herself onto the road 20 metres below.
She initially spoke to the woman and eventually reached her on the bridge when there was a struggle and the woman slipped.
Rachel, who has been an officer with West Mercia Police for two years and is based in Telford, held onto the woman’s legs and ankles to stop her from her falling.
She was then joined by an off-duty officer who helped get the woman back over the railings to safety.
Her line manager said: “PC Paterson acted on instinct and I truly believe she made a brave decision which saved the life of the member of the public.
“Without her intervention, the female would have fallen 20m head first onto the carriageway below.”
Speaking after the awards ceremony, Rachel paid tribute to her fellow nominees and also to her colleagues at West Mercia Police.
She said: “It is hard to sum up what an incredible day we had. From having canapés in Downing Street to meeting real life heroes, it was surreal from start to finish.
“Listening to the mind-blowing acts of bravery and selflessness was breathtaking and I was so incredibly proud to be in the same room as these people, let alone be nominated.
“It was an event for the police family and to celebrate everything we do on a daily basis - which turns out to be an infinite amount of goodness.
“We also celebrated our family and friends who support us on a daily basis when they have no idea what they are coming home to. Whether that be a good day or a bad day.
“I would urge everyone to watch or to see a little snippet of the award ceremony and I am sure you will be as blown away as I was at the acts of my colleagues from around the country.
“If you are thinking of joining the police, then please come and join us. I couldn’t ask for a better second family than my shift on Team C at Telford and the policing family in general. Everyday is different and challenges you in new ways, ways in which I’ve seen my colleagues achieve truly incredible things and help the public in ways I don’t think they realised that we could.
“I’ve seen many things but the tenacity of the police as a whole to leave an incident better in which they arrived is what I’m most proud of being a police officer for, we all love helping people and last night celebrated the highest caliber of acts of true bravery.”
Sarah Cooper, West Mercia Police Federation chair, said: “Rachel is an outstanding police officer and it was an honour to accompany her to the Police Bravery Awards.
“There’s no doubt that her quick-thinking, calmness and bravery saved this woman’s life.
“Rachel represents officers across our Force area who carry out extraordinarily courageous acts every day to serve and protect the public. She is absolutely deserving of the nomination and I am delighted that her bravery has been recognised in this way.”
Speaking at the Downing Street reception, Ms Patel told the nominees: “I am delighted to be able to celebrate with you, once again, the incredible courage of a remarkable group of police officers.
“Your work involves an extraordinary degree of sacrifice that should never be taken for granted. These awards play an important part in ensuring your deeds are recognised.
“I would like to thank the organisers of the 2022 awards, the Police Federation, and Police Mutual for their continued support for the event.”
The officers also received warm praise and a message of thanks from Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
He said: “These acts of bravery, honoured here today by your colleagues and the public, are outstanding and in the finest traditions of policing. I salute each and every one of the fantastic nominees at the awards. You are truly the best of the very best.
“It is absolutely right and proper that we honour and celebrate the work of our brave men and women in uniform who work day in and day out to protect the public.
“The progress we are making towards recruiting 20,000 more officers gives me full confidence that together we will make our streets safer. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Police Federation national chair Steve Hartshorn said: “Tonight, we heard extraordinary stories of bravery, selflessness and acts of courage that are not just part of the job.
“The bravery shown by these nominees is truly outstanding. From putting their own lives at risk to save others, facing violent attackers and terrifying weapons, to rescuing people from perilous situations in fast flowing water or stranded hundreds of feet in the air, they have faced danger head on.”
The annual bravery awards are organised by the Police Federation and sponsored by Police Mutual.
This year’s overall winner was Lincolnshire Police’s PC Steven Denniss who was stabbed as he tackled a double murder suspect he has spotted while off duty and out walking his dogs.
