Bravery awards: Sophie wins Solihull LPA award

18 February 2026

PC Sophie Hooper with (left) Ché Donald, director of Niche Solutions which sponsored the award.

Bravery award winner Sophie Hooper says she did not even consider her actions brave when she single-handedly tackled a knife-wielding offender but had simply been committed to making sure he was arrested.

The young PC was presented with the West Midlands Police Federation Bravery Award for the Solihull LPA after being called to reports of a group of balaclava-wearing males carrying knives chasing a victim in Tudor Grange Park, Solihull on 14 June 2024.

“I was single crewed already that shift and happened to be near the offence location when the call came in,” Sophie explained.

“It all happened so quickly I didn’t really have time to think about how I felt. I just knew there was multiple offenders and an innocent child who had just been robbed at knife point. I knew they would continue to commit offences if they weren’t stopped,” Sophie explained.

“While I was aware the offender was armed due to the description and information given already, I was unaware how big the large Zombie knife was until he was detained and searched. I did not want him to commit any further robberies so knew he had to be apprehended.”

Sophie, who is 25 and has been with the Force for six years this year, first followed the offender in her car before he ran into the park and then down an enclosed alleyway.

As she was on her own, she red-dotted him with Taser when she realised he still had the weapon and was running towards her.

“I stepped back as much as I could to create some space, but he still continued to run towards me so I returned my Taser to the holster as I knew it would not be effective I have took a hold of the male,” she continued.

Sophie was then able to take hold of the offender but was relieved when two members of her own policing team and officers from neighbourhood and investigations arrived.

“I did not think about my actions being brave at the time. I just knew the offender needed to be stopped. It wasn’t until I got this recognition that I thought about the incident properly,” she recalled.

Sophie was one of several officers whose brave actions were recognised at the West Midlands Police Federation Bravery Awards which were held at Tally Ho earlier this year.

The Solihull LPA award was sponsored by Niche Solutions with its director Ché Donald presenting Sophie with her award on the night.

Sophie attended the awards with her partner, Jordan, and said afterwards: “I felt very proud to have won the Solihull LPA award. I felt like it was a rewarding evening in itself with everyone being able to have a sit-down meal and speak with people who you wouldn’t usually see in your day-to-day role.

Admitting that she had not originally planned to join the police, Sophie signed up after she enjoyed learning about policing while completing a college public services course.

“I wanted to feel I was doing a career where I could give something back to other people,” she added.

Sophie began her time with the Force on Bournville response and moved to Solihull after her initial eight weeks’ training. She has since worked in numerous roles including response, investigations and within the High Harm team before her permanent posting to Solihull C Unit response three years ago.