Page 10 - WMPF Federation AUG-SEPT 2019_Neat

National Police Bavery Awards

the red lights to change when they saw a
large group of men spilling out of a local
restaurant to the left of them. They could
see that there was some pushing and
shoving and things were getting heated.
Adam then said: “Look, he’s got a knife”.
They could see one man was holding a
large kitchen knife to the stomach of
another man and quickly got out of the car.
“Adam was drawing his Parva, I drew my
baton which is the way we were taught in
Personal Safety Training. I didn’t really think
too much about what was unfolding in front
of us and, although we were shouting at the
man to drop the knife, I could tell that
English wasn’t his first language so I was
concerned that he didn’t understand our
commands and, of course, because we
weren’t in uniform, he might not even
believe we were police officers,” said Lorna.
As the incident became more heated,
one of the men initially ran towards Adam
with the knife but then ran past him DIY SOS host Nick Knowles with the two West Midlands officers at the awards night.
discarding the knife over a nearby wall.
“Knowing Adam, the way I do and,
having dealt with a number of jobs with him also have 100 per cent trust in Adam too power of prayer. She always prays that I’ll
involving knives, I knew instinctively that he and we’ve always got each other’s back. come home safe and although she was
would give chase. We didn’t know that “Given the same set of circumstances, I worried about us getting into trouble she
another male present at the scene had would do the same thing again. To ignore and my father were very proud of my actions
another knife so as Adam started running something like that would be a total neglect but said that had it have been them in my
after the first male, I didn’t realise that of duty. If I was to drive past and not deal shoes they might have ran the other way.”
another male was running straight towards with it and then hear that someone had Despite the nature of the incident, Lorna
me holding out another knife,” said Lorna. been injured or even killed I would never be remembers feeling very shocked and
“I swung my baton to knock the knife able to live with myself and I would certainly overwhelmed when she received a call from
from his hand but he was out of reach. I have to step down from the office of West Midlands Police Federation’s deputy
screamed to Adam to make him aware of constable, 100 per cent.” chair, John Williams, telling her she had been
the oncoming threat behind him but I didn’t Luckily, Tony, who is a Force dog handler nominated.
know if he heard me. I felt physically sick and former personal safety training Having not long woken up after a
when I heard Adam push his emergency instructor, is completely understanding of nightshift, she recalled: “My palms were
button to call for more back-up and I her role and the risks she faces. getting a little bit sweaty and I was telling
shouted to my colleagues in the other car “He’s always had faith in me and actively my Tony to turn the TV down as I couldn’t
that one of the men have gone after Adam encouraged and supported my decision to quite believe what I was hearing. I
and that he had a knife. ‘get out on the streets’ after spending nine remember asking John if he had definitely
“That’s when we all scrambled to locate years in the Force Control Room. I don’t think called the right person. I was just doing my
Adam and detain the two armed men. I he was too surprised by my actions as he job!”
certainly didn’t think I was being brave at was aware that I had already gained a bit of Now coming to terms with the reality of
the time. I’m a police officer and I swore an a reputation for attracting ‘trouble’,” she it all, though, Lorna says: “The main thing I
oath to ‘prevent offences against people and said. took away from the evening was seeing how
property’ and with the right training and But Lorna’s parents were concerned: “My humble every single officer was. Every officer
confidence you just do it without thinking. I mother is very religious and believes in the in that room was ‘just doing their job’. All
“ property’ and stay true to the oath we swore
typical ‘British bobbies’ with one main aim,
‘to prevent all offences against people and
Mr Hurd called the Metropolitan Police
when we became constables.
“Every officer present that evening did

Commissioner, Cressida Dick, over to our table and
their home forces proud and I, for one, was
immensely proud to not only share the
said to her ‘This officer would like a selfie”. I
Amanda but all the other nominees too. A
wanted the ground to swallow me up. She laughed evening with my fiancé, Adam, his wife
special thank you to Rich Cooke, our West
Midlands Police Federation chair, for his
but was very happy to pose for a photo. hospitality and for looking after us while in
London, and also to Mr Thompson for
sharing the evening with us. I’ve truly made
some special memories I’ll never forget.”

10 federation August/September 2019 www.polfed.org/westmids
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