Nominate brave officers for annual Federation awards ceremony
6 September 2024
Officers from across the Force are being urged to consider nominating colleagues for the West Midlands Police Federation Bravery Awards.
The Federation first held its own bravery awards night in January this year, and plans are now underway for the 2025 event.
“The inaugural awards night was a resounding success and served to recognise the incredible bravery shown by West Midlands Police officers day in, day out, as they go about their duties serving and protecting our communities,” says Rich Cooke, chair of West Midlands Police Federation.
“The police service is going through some of the most difficult times I can remember during my service and this makes it even more important that we highlight the great work officers do.
“No one joins the police service to win awards, they join out of a commitment to serving the public, to fighting crime, to keeping the peace and to protecting the public.
“But, all too often, while carrying out these roles, they instinctively put their lives on the line, putting themselves in danger to help people. We need to recognise this, and our bravery awards help us do that.
“If you know a colleague who has carried out an outstanding act of bravery, please consider putting them forward for the awards.”
Awards
Rich added: “We are delighted to have Slater and Gordon Lawyers back as the headline sponsor for the awards ceremony. This sponsorship, along with the support of other business partnerships, allows us to host this gala celebration of our officers’ bravery.”
Awards will be given in seven categories based on the geographical areas of the Force: Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton.
The Sam Hughes Inspiration in Policing Award, in memory of former Federation branch deputy chair Sam who died in 2023, will also be presented during the awards evening. The award is proudly sponsored by the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner’s Office.
One of the category winners will then be chosen as the overall winner and will be presented with the PC David Green Shield as well as going forward as the West Midlands Police Federation nomination for the national Police Bravery Awards which will be held in London in July next year.
Commended
The shield is named in honour of 20-year-old David, who was stabbed to death by a mob in Birmingham city centre in July 1975. In David’s 15-month career, he was commended three times for his bravery.
The 2024 West Midlands Police Federation Bravery Awards winner was PC Glenn Brabham who saved the lives of two elderly women who were trapped under a car after being accidentally run over in a car park.
He attended the national Police Bravery Awards in London this year, joining other nominees at a Downing Street afternoon reception hosted by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper before the evening awards ceremony.
All supervisors within the Force have been sent a nomination form for the awards and requested to circulate to their Constables (Force systems do not allow us to email globally), but if you do not have access to the form, please email the Federation office so that it can be sent directly to you.
All nominations must be submitted by Friday 18 October 2024.
