Civilians take awards at 'top of the cops' ceremony

David Walker, Amjad Masri, Scott Newham, Janet Scott, Les Holder and Ian Winstone didn't need a uniform to make a difference.

Mr Walker and Mr Masri gave CPR and first aid to an unconscious driver who had a heart attack seconds before his car was in collision with an HGV in Holme Lacy Road last year.

Their efforts went on until paramedics arrived and earned them a Divisional Commendation.

The same accolade went to Mr Newham, Mrs Scott, Mr Holder and Mr Winstone on the air every day with Hereford's top rated Retail Radio scheme.

Retail Radio, which warns shops and staff of suspects, helped Sergeant Tim Powell and his High Town patrol team to 482 arrests last year. That's a 71 per cent detection rate and 17 per cent drop in offending on one of West Mercia's busiest beats.

l It was routine 'shout'. Violent domestic at Steensbridge. PCs Alan Saffery and Sergeant Mike Doolan had seen it all before. They knew to be wary of this kind of call late at night. They didn't expect to be fighting for their lives.

And a frenzied fight at that as the husband attacked both officers with a knife. They suffered serious wounds before back up arrived.

Their attacker, Benjamin Cooper, is now serving a six-year prison sentence. PC Saffery (now retired) and Sgt Doolan (patrol - Hereford) get Chief Constable's Commendations.

l Two detectives heard a prosecution QC praise their painstaking inquiries into a 'culture of corruption' at a county car repair firm.

That praise at Nottingham Crown Court last year is reflected in Chief Constable's Commendations for the work Detective Sergeant Jim Lucas (now retired) and Detective Constable Roger Warley (Divisional CID) put into the complex case against Malcolm Sosna and Gordon Soutar.

Sosna and Soutar admitted conspiring to defraud insurance companies and were sentenced to four years, nine months and two years respectively.

l A MAN stormed out on his former partner and threatened to return with a gun. When he did, Sergeant Andy Woolhouse and PC Mike Davey (dog handlers - Hereford) were waiting.

The pair get Chief Constable's Commendations for their 'courage and professionalism' in making the arrest unarmed.

l Sometimes it's all in the interview, Detective Constable Peter Williams (Divisional CID) and PC Paul Kerr (patrol - Hereford) conducted a series of them with a man suspected of dealing steroids.

Their work prompted that suspect to admit 18 charges relating to the supply of Class C controlled drugs. He was sentenced to six months and over £20,000 was seized during a search of his home.

DC Williams gets a Chief Constable's commendation and PC Kerr a Divisional Commendation.

l Makeshift missiles were hurled at motorcyclist PC Jeff Jones (Traffic) during his high-speed pursuit of a car he saw being driven erratically across North Herefordshire.

In that car was a man on licence from prison. PC Jones arrested him once the car ran off the road out of control.

The driver was subsequently charged with theft of the car and a number of burglaries. PC Jones gets a Divisional Commendation.

l PC Robin Davies (Hereford) is among the unsung heroes of county policing. He's one of the beat managers who largely do their work without blue lights, work that is vital in building community co-operation.

And in doing so PC Davies gets a Divisional Commendation for 'high standards, commitment and enthusiasm' shown to his patch Hinton and St Martin's.

l All inquiries into sex crime require a specific degree of sensitivity. The 'motivation and commitment' of Sergeant Lynn Edwards (Leominster) investigating an allegation of rape where the victim was a teenager earned a Divisional Commendation.

l PCs Gareth Evans and Mark Seal (Hereford) stop-searched a 'usual suspect' to find a quantity of crack cocaine.

Their interview of that suspect was enough to obtain a warrant for an address in the city where more crack was found and two men were arrested for its possession.

The officers get Divisional Commendations for 'commitment and dedication to detail'.

l John Smallman (Front Counter Clerk - Hereford) gets a Divisional Commendation for 'bravery and professionalism' in dealing with an incident for which a man is awaiting trial.

l The Sally Clive Special Constabulary Award went to Sub-Divisional Officer Brian Wright (Senior Special Supervisor - North Section) and Special Constable David Jenkins (Peterchurch) was Probationer of the Year.