Long-serving police staff, exceptional volunteers, and officers who saved the life of a Wiltshire man in crisis have been awarded for their efforts.

As part of the annual Wiltshire Police Force Awards, Chief Constable Catherine Roper praised the brave actions of her workforce at incidents around the county.

Various emergency workers received a Chief Constable’s Outstanding Teamwork Award for how they handled an incident involving a person in crisis on the top floor of a Trowbridge multi-storey car park.

On June 16, officers tried to help an intoxicated man in distress who was threatening to jump.

They grabbed hold of him when he tried to jump and then held onto the vulnerable adult for 30 minutes until the fire service arrived and brought him to safety.

Other officers arrived and used throw lines from their vehicles to help secure the man and assist those holding on to him. He was safely returned to the ground floor, detained under the Mental Health Act, and taken to a place of safety.

PC Chahida Boutarfas, PC Shannon Stephenson, PC Sam Shellard, PC Christopher Marshall, PC Joshua Hammond, PC Aga Markiewicz, PC Reece Follett, PC Millie Hudson, PC Lilianna Illston-Baggs, PC Thomas Thatcher, PC Guy Hamel, PC Sean Surgey, PC Craig Winner-Pardoe, PC Alice Proctor and PC Thomas Thatcher. PCSO’s Leigh Holcomb, William Browne and Sophie Piper. PS Francesca Archer. CCO Sharon Mackenzie and Bethany Holt have received a joint honour for their team effort.

Chief Constable Roper said: “The physically and mentally demanding nature of the situation was met with unwavering resolve, highlighting the critical role everyone played in ensuring a successful outcome.

“In recognition of extraordinary courage and commitment, this award honours the officers whose quick thinking and bravery in challenging circumstances prevented a potential tragedy. Their relentless efforts, from the initial 999 call through to the meticulous coordination of response and support, demonstrated exceptional teamwork and dedication.”

SPC Damien Penman was named PCC Special of the Year for developing a system in his spare time which has allowed his fellow officers to work more efficiently and accurately, saving hundreds of hours of unnecessary hassle.

He noticed limitations in the systems which were being used to gather information in fast-paced missing persons investigations, where only specific staff could analyse large amounts of mobile phone mast data.

Special Constable Penman worked with the Digital Investigation and Intelligence Unit and used his professional knowledge to create a database which can be used by any Wiltshire Police officer, allowing them to access more accurate real-time information when searching for dangerous suspects or people who are at risk of harm.

Chief Constable Catherine Roper said: “I’d like to thank you for leaving a legacy which exemplifies the huge advantages of special constables integrating their professional knowledge into their policing lives, and will benefit this organisation for many years to come.”

PCC Volunteer of the Year Peter Goodenough received recognition for giving up more than 100 hours of his time during the past year to give honest critical feedback to trainees using his vast experience as former head of the late Queen’s security detail and lead trainer for the Ministry of Defence.

Chief Constable Roper added: “Your expertise extends beyond the scope of training our staff and officers, and you were one of the first volunteers to join Wiltshire College students in Salisbury and Trowbridge as they conducted successful safety sweeps with our Citizens in Policing team.

“This initial pilot has been expanded to other parts of the county, and this is partly due to the positive results from those first operations.

“I’d like thank you for the exceptional contribution you make to the communities we serve and for your continued support of Wiltshire Police.”

In addition, 19 Wiltshire Police employees received awards in recognition of their long service to the county force.

They included Police Constable (Acting Police Sergeant) Michelle Barratt (14 years to Greater Manchester, seven to Wiltshire), Detective Sergeant Claire Watts and Louise Earle (21 years), Police Constable Paul Bezzant, Police Constable Andrew Plenderleith, Detective Superintendent Conway Duncan, Police Constable Emily Thomas, Detective Constable David Topp, Detective Constable Amanda Lord, Hayley Williams and Tracey Hince (20 years), Inspector Gavin Nix (17 years), Special Constable Shane Wheeler (15 years), and Detective Sergeant Darren Penny.

Chief Constable Catherine Roper added: "I have had the honour of witnessing first-hand the tireless efforts, care and professionalism displayed by our teams and our communities, who have selflessly put the needs of others ahead of themselves.

“Policing is a privilege, that demands the highest standards of public service, integrity and compassion. Our communities deserve nothing less.

“We should also recognise that many of these achievements would not be possible without the encouragement, strength and support from family members and friends.

“To all of the award recipients, well done and thank you.”

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: "Through hearing the stories of our officers, staff, volunteers and members of the public, it's clear that they risked their personal safety and made extraordinary efforts to uphold the core values of public service and protection that underpin the work of Wiltshire Police.

"The standards highlighted by them serve as a benchmark for all of us.

"It is our responsibility to complement their individual achievements with consistent excellence across the force and ensure that we all work towards the common goal of making Wiltshire Police one of the best performing forces in the country."