Heroic cops have been honoured for incidents in which they went beyond the call of duty to risk their lives and showed bravery, courage, quick-thinking and amazing sleuthing prowess.

Harrow Police officers were congratulated at the Borough Commander’s Commendations ceremony on Tuesday for achievements which stretch from showing outstanding professionalism and courage in the face of adversity to savings lives.

Sergeant Dave Gamblin and PCs Gavin Kenneally and Gurpal Pank were among those commended for ‘exemplary professionalism, teamwork and by conducting themselves in a manner that was a credit to the Metropolitan Police Service’ after attending the Christmas-time tragedy that rocked Stanmore when 11-year-old Lily Rose died after she and her mother were hit by a car while waiting for a bus in Common Road on December 18 last year.

The pair were knocked over and critical injured when a vehicle overtaking two buses collided with an oncoming bus before spinning round and mounting the opposite pavement.

PC Pank, who is still on his probation period, tried to resucitate the 11-year-old Watford schoolgirl until the paramedics arrived although their efforts were sadly in vain.

“PC Pank remained composed and professional throughout this distressing incident and Sergeant Gamblin arrived on scene and took control of the situation despite it being the first major incident he had supervised,” borough commander Chief Superintendent Simon Ovens told the ceremony.

Officers PC Steve Carruthers, Josh Cohen, Mark Plain, Briain Hailstone along with Trainee Detective Constable Rob Gray, Detective Constavle Will Ridler, Detective Constable Janine Stevenson and Sergeant Ruby Kadiri were similarly praised for their handling of the aftermath of the attempted murder with a knife carried out by Donovan Golding on his former partner in Hindes Road, Harrow, in July.

Mr Ovens said: “The front door was forced and the officers were met with a harrowing scene of a female with multiple stav wounds around her chest and beck, and lying next to her, face and chest down, was a male believed to be the suspect.

“Under the direction of PC Palin, his colleagues Cohen and Carruthers set about administering crucial and life-saving firaid to the female whose condition was critical, with death immiment. PC Palin administered life-saving first aid to the male, who was critically injured.

“An incident of this magnitude would normally be investigated by our Serious Crime Directorate but the ability and dedicated shown by the detectives meant they could progress this investigation to trial.”

Golding, 35, a barber of Atlip Road, Wembley, was sentenced to 15 years’ jail at Harrow Crown Court in February over the bloody attack that left victim Nicole Ghete paralysed from the chest down.

Mr Ovens spoke about another incident in February last year when a member of the public called 999 after seeing a man who had climbed a tree and was seemingly preparing to hang himself.

PC Anthony Samuel rushed to the scene, located the man and began talking to him.

Mr Ovens said: “As the rapport developed between the two, the male revealed that he had argued with his partner and his relationship had broken up.

“Having established the reason for his distress Constable Samuel was able to reason with the male and talk him down from the tree and to safety.

“PC Anthony Samuels’ professional approach, his compassion and patience throughout this situation undoubtedly saved this male from taking his own life.”

For more from the police commendations, pick up tomorrow's Harrow Observer newspaper.