CoM trio put themselves in danger to safeguard members of the public

There was certainly tough competition in the Bravery category at this year’s City of Manchester’s District Awards.

Response Police Constables Paul Matthews and Josh Farrell scooped the award for safeguarding two women and a child from harm by running towards a knife-wielding man and disarming and arresting him.

The runner-up was Investigation Support Officer Caroline Bolton, who talked a suicidal girl out of jumping off a bridge before leaning over the railings, putting her arms around the teenager and helping her get back to safety.

CoM Chief Superintendent Rick Jackson said: “The standard of the nominations in the Bravery category were simply outstanding.

“Both the winners and the runner-up deserve every possible plaudit for their truly standout work which saw them put their own safety at risk to help others.

“PCs Paul Matthews and Josh Farrell had no back-up and were unarmed when they attended an address on a Grade 1 response following reports of a stabbing.

“Yet they forced entry to find two women with serious injuries on the first floor – one of whom had been stabbed in the back – and to discover that the suspect was upstairs with a child.

“Without any regard for their own safety, they ran upstairs to the man who was brandishing a large knife and managed to disarm and arrest him, paving the way for paramedics to enter the address and ensure that the two injured women were given the medical treatment they needed.

“The brave actions of PCs Matthews and Farrell potentially saved lives and prevented further injury.

“Caroline Bolton, a staff member who works in the Child Protection Investigation Unit at CoM South, also potentially saved a life, and she was not even on duty when she performed her act of heroism.

“She was on her way home when she saw a 17-year-old girl standing on the wrong side of a bridge.

“The teenager wanted to end her life before Caroline spent 20 minutes talking to her and reassuring her.

“When the girl agreed to come back to the right side of the bridge, Caroline put herself in danger by leaning over the railings to get her to safety.

“Caroline isn’t a trained police officer or negotiator, but she acted with incredible calmness, compassion, professionalism, integrity and courage as a member of GMP staff.

“Caroline and PCs Matthews and Farrell should all be extremely proud of themselves.

“They are an absolute credit to GMP, and it must have been incredibly difficult to pick the winner of the CoM District Bravery Award.”

CoM Chief Superintendent Rick Jackson is pictured presenting the trio with their certificates at the district awards ceremony held at FC United’s stadium near FHQ.

As winners of the Bravery Award, PCs Matthews and Farrell have been put forward as CoM’s representatives for that category at this year’s Chief Constable’s Awards.