Outstanding work of Wiltshire Police colleagues celebrated at virtual Awards Ceremony.

30 April 2021

The outstanding work of Wiltshire Police colleagues has been celebrated at a virtual Awards Ceremony.

Attendees heard stories of brave officers who had been shot at in the line of duty; rescued a mother and child from a house fire; detained an armed suspects after an aggravated burglary; and helped vulnerable victims of domestic abuse.

Others were commended for their inspirational leadership and long service.

The event, which had been postponed from last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, was attended online by individuals and teams as well as senior staff and officers from Wiltshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC).

It recognised and honoured officers, staff and volunteers who put themselves in harm’s way to protect the public at some of the most challenging times in their lives.

Among the award-winners were a group of officers who resuscitated a woman while a gunman shot at them during a two-hour siege. Inspector Mark Freeman was the firearms commander who directed teams from the control room, while Sergeant Nathan Perry, PC Peter Smith and their team calmly talked the gunman down.

Sgt Perry received a Chief Constable’s Certificate of Excellence and PC Charlotte Richards received a Commendation for their actions. Insp Mark Freeman, Insp Barry Reed, Kimberly Richards and Timothy Barnwell of the control room were given an Outstanding Teamwork Award; as were armed officers Sgt Robbie Kilgour, PC Peter Smith, PC Tim Chandler, PC James Swayne and PC Chloe Stokes.

PC Mark McIntyre received a Chief Constable’s Certificate of Excellence for a separate incident where he talked down a vulnerable man from a motorway bridge. 

PC Lauren Eddy, PC Callum Davis and PC Tom Carver also received Commendations, while Sergeant Lucy Fair won a Long Service Award and Inspirational Leadership Award for her work with the Wiltshire Forensic Collision Investigation Unit (FCIU).

Receiving Long Service Awards were PC Jay Bundhoo, Special Constable Section Leader Stuart Parker, PC Stephen Porter and Detective Constable Robin Barratt. Other officers received awards but asked for their names not to be publicised.

Wiltshire Police Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills said: “I’m immensely proud to have the opportunity to recognise and celebrate these amazing achievements and the contribution my colleagues have made.”

Chief Constable Kier Pritchard said: “Our officers, staff and volunteers work incredibly hard, often faced with challenging situations and difficult decisions. All those honoured at the awards have in one form or another demonstrated the values and standards that underpin Wiltshire Police and the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner. I am really proud of these brave and public-spirited individuals; they are a credit to the force and to the communities they serve.”