West Mercia officers clinch regional title at national Police Bravery Awards

12 July 2024

Three West Mercia Police Federation members who saved a woman from a submerged car have been named regional winners at this year’s national Police Bravery Awards.

Sergeant Lee Baker, Sergeant Shannon Murphy and PC Thomas Simmonds received the recognition at an event in London last night (Thursday 11 July).

The award was presented by acting national chair Tiff Lynch.

Lee and Tom accepted the award on behalf of the trio, as Shannon was unable to attend due to prior commitments.

Lee said: “What is happening? This feels so surreal.

Illustrious company

“We’ve been in such illustrious company tonight, the whole thing is really humbling. I’m really thankful that we’ve won.”

Thomas added: “Listening to all other stories tonight, it’s incredible just to be considered. To pick up this award is a great feeling.”

Secretary of West Mercia Police Federation Pete Nightingale, along with Temporary Chief Constable Alex Murray and the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) John Campion, also attended the evening.

Lee and Thomas celebrate with secretary of West Mercia Police Federation
Pete Nightingale (second right), Temporary Chief Constable Alex Murray (left)
and acting chair of the national Federation, Tiff Lynch.

Pete said: “It was an incredible honour and privilege to attend the event and listen to the heroic actions of officers up and down the country.

“I am delighted that the West Mercia nominees were announced as our regional winners against some very strong competition.”

In April 2023, police received a 999 call alerting them to a Mini that had ended up in a flooded ford between Pershore and Drakes Broughton.

Arriving on the scene, Lee, Shannon and Tom - along with several other colleagues - found the car to be almost completely submerged and about 10 metres downstream due to heavy rainfall causing flash flooding. Thinking on their feet, the officers skilfully formed a human chain and waded in to offer reassurance and maintain her calm demeanour.

Despite the car's electrics being disabled by the water, the officers broke open the driver's side window and pulled her to safety just moments before the vehicle sank.

Annie Nisbet, the woman rescued, has since paid tribute to the officers, referring to them as a ‘troop of heroes’.

Proud

Pete added: “I am really proud of them and I know Annie will always be extremely grateful for the courageous actions of the officers on that day that saved her life.”

The awards, which was the 29th of its kind, kicked off with an introduction from 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 nominees to Downing Street for an exclusive reception that morning ahead of the event.

Addressing the audience, Ms Cooper, who revealed it was the 14th Police Bravery Awards that 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 cops whose support ‘makes the work they do possible’.

Stabbed

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.”

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 (PFEW) and is sponsored by Police Mutual.