A Special Constable has been recognised for outstanding bravery after he was chased down by a wanted samarai sword-wielding man in Hayes.
Special Constable of the Year, George Brown, was celebrated at the Total Excellence in Policing Awards, on Monday (February 8).
The awards recognised a host of dedicated police work across 15 separate categories including London's bravest officer, best detective, thief taker of the year, and excellence in victim care.
While on patrol in Hayes , SPC Brown saw a suspicious vehicle, called for back up and stopped it.
The occupants, both carrying swords, ran off, so he chased them on foot, only to have one of the men charge at him with a samurai sword.
Displaying outstanding bravery, he disarmed the man using just his baton.
The man was arrested, detained and found to be wanted for attempted murder of a 15 year old boy.
George stayed on duty to ensure the correct procedures were followed, 18 hours after starting his shift.
Moire than 40,000 people took part in the public vote to choose the winner of this year's Outstanding Bravery of the Year Award which was won by PC Jack Muscatt and PC Jack Collins from Southwark.
Forced marriage investigation
Also from Hillingdon borough, Denisa Andronic won the award for Total Victim Care, after helping a young German national, who travelled to Iraq in January 2015 with her father because he’d asked for help in claiming his pension there.
The victim, having previously been a victim of domestic violence, had told her boyfriend to report her missing if she didn’t return, which he did.
After initial enquiries, Denisa went to the woman’s home address and found the father was there.
He confirmed his daughter was in Iraq and due to return shortly. Denisa went straight to family court for a Forced Marriage Protection Order.
But when she returned, the father was gone and was found to have left the country.
Denisa worked tirelessly to secure consulate and Home Office assistance, to help locate her.
Contact with the victim was infrequent, and her messages increasingly more desperate. She was eventually found and secured at the German consulate in Erbil.
A few days later, Denisa welcomed her back to the UK, where she said: “I have no doubt he would have killed me if I didn’t do what they told me and marry who he wanted”. Her father was duly arrested.
'Showcase of professionalism'
Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, Met Police Commissioner, said: "The Total Excellence Awards showcase the professionalism of our best leaders, volunteers, officers and staff, teamwork, excellence in overcoming adversity and so much more.
"Such remarkable acts of professionalism and selfless acts of bravery are often carried out in the Metropolitan Police Service, but rarely remarked upon. These awards give us the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the courage of some of our officers and police staff, in saving lives, fighting crime and tackling armed and dangerous criminals.
"My officers and staff joined the Met to serve and protect Londoners and make our city safer for everyone. I am proud to lead an organisation where amazing work happens everyday. This is an opportunity for me to say thank you to all those men and women of the Met who give so much for London every day."
The event was the fifth annual award event celebrating amazing professionalism and dedication right across the Metropolitan Police Service.
Other winners from west London included:
- Best Thief Taker: PC Jason White, Richmond
- Police Staff of the Year: Idris Bada, Met Detention, Westminster
- Overall Winner Commissioner's Excellence in Total Policing: Idris Bada, Met Detention, Westminster
- Commitment to Professionalism Whilst Overcoming Adversity: PC Keyur Patel, Hounslow
