'Actions always speak louder than words in our job’

2 September 2025

PC Jodie Cox clinched the bravery category at the awards earlier this summer.

Held at the Carden Park Hotel in Cheshire, the annual event showcased the best of female officers across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Jodie won the Federation’s bravery award for the Birmingham area in January after leading the arrest of an extremely dangerous man in the city in May 2024.

 

PC Jodie Cox

 

She persevered through arson, a vitriol attack and threats to kill to ensure the offender was brought under control before he could cause further harm to her and her colleagues. 

Reflecting on her BAWP Award, Jodie said: “It’s an absolute honour to receive another award for my actions – it’s difficult to put into words how much it means, but I think my best attempt would be that it means the world.

“Winning one bravery award was more than good enough for me, so to win another is just unbelievable, and I’m extremely grateful.

“To receive this one among my female peers in the police is very special. The whole ceremony was a beautiful reminder of how amazing women in policing are – I was just happy to be there witnessing it, let alone go up on stage myself and be applauded, so it was all a massive honour.”

Incident

Part of West Midlands Police for 17-and-a-half years, Jodie attended the domestic disturbance in question alongside two student officers who were on just their second day of response policing.

As the incident escalated, she and three different colleagues who had arrived at the scene had a caustic liquid thrown in their faces. All four officers later made a full recovery from their injuries at Dudley Road Hospital.

But, before she could receive any medical attention, Jodie remained present to help Force back-up in completing the arrest of the offender, who was showing no signs of remorse or restraint. 

“Looking back on that day, it still doesn’t quite feel real,” she continued, “I guess it’s just the unpredictable world of frontline policing, but that doesn’t take away from how challenging a job it was.

“I remember being in a lot of pain from the vitriol attack, but I knew I had to stick around to make sure the man was contained, with how violent he was and the fact that he had threatened to go even further.”

Actions

The 41-year-old – who was joined at the BAWP Awards by her wife, Kimberley – elaborated on the meaning of her latest title as a woman in the Force.

“In a profession still dominated by men, it’s so important that the achievements of female police officers are celebrated,” she explained.

“This becomes even more vital when there are comments from people in positions of power suggesting we are inferior to our male counterparts, which have come out recently and made my blood boil, to be honest.

“Hopefully, this doesn’t make any woman in policing doubt themselves – they should always remember actions speak louder than words in our job, and that will never change.

“It’s my actions which have won me these awards, along with the incredible support I have behind me. Kimberley is my biggest supporter – I don’t think I could do this job without her – and my colleagues are amazing, so I would like to thank them for all the work they do too.”

READ MORE: Nominate your colleague for a West Midlands Bravery Award.