PC Daniel Strong foiled an armed robbery in Hanwell
PC Daniel Strong foiled an armed robbery in Hanwell

Time is running out to vote for a heroic bobby who foiled an armed robber in the Met’s Outstanding Bravery Of The Year Award.

PC Daniel Strong is one of five nominations in this year’s awards and voting closes on Sunday.

PC Strong, of the Safer Transport Command, was on patrol in Hanwell on March 14 last year when he heard the alarm at a nearby Post Office.

The 41-year-old officer, who has nine years service, immediately radioed for assistance and went over to investigate. As he looked through the window of the Post Office he saw an armed man holding a gun to the head of a cashier.

PC Strong waited for the man to leave and followed him at a distance. As the man mounted a scooter to make his getaway, PC Strong knocked him to the ground along with his vehicle. After a short struggle, he arrested the man and a search revealed he was carrying a loaded gun along with £50,000 in cash.

The robber, Matthew Michael Devine, 50, of no fixed abode, was subsequently convicted and jailed for 18 years for a string of robberies and seven years for firearms offences. His sentences are running concurrently.

The winner of the award will be announced at a ceremony on Wednesday, January 22, which will be hosted by LBC Radio presenter Nick Ferrari.

Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Met Police Commissioner, said: “These awards give us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the courage of some of our officers, in saving lives and tackling armed and dangerous criminals. Please take a small amount of time out of your day to read about what these officers have done that resulted in them being nominated for this bravery award, and then place your vote.

“It was a very difficult decision for us to select these cases from a huge number of nominations, all of which are worthy of note.”

More details about the couragous stories of each Met Police employee who has been nomined can be found on the official MPS voting page www.met.police.uk/Site/braveryaward .