Awards have been presented to police officers, police staff and members of the public for going ‘above and beyond’ to protect Isle of Wight communities, at a ceremony in Newport. The Isle of Wight area Commander’s awards were hosted by Superintendent Rob Mitchell, at the Newport Congregational Church.

Supt Mitchell welcomed a number of special guests, including Chief Constable Scott Chilton, Lord-Lieutenant Susie Sheldon, and IW High Sheriff Graham Biss.

Attendees heard of the bravery and dedication of not only police officers and staff working on the Island, but of selfless members of the public who came to the aid of others.

In addition, Beth Wilson, Inspector Adam Henderson-Parish, and Chief Superintendent Sarah Jackson were awarded their Police Long Service Awards, while Elizabeth Alchin was presented with her retirement certificate.

Among the recipients were Neethirajan Subramanium, Emily Murphy and Karl Meech, who were all awarded the Area Commander’s Certificate of Congratulations, in recognition of their quick-thinking and teamwork in helping to detain and safeguard a man with acute behavioural disorder, following an incident in Marks & Spencer in September.

Also in September, Charlotte Fisher was running, at Freshwater Bay cliffs, when she encountered someone in crisis and on the cliff edge. She called police and stayed with the individual for several hours. Eventually, the person came away from the edge and back to safety. Charlotte was awarded the Area Commander’s Certificate of Congratulations for her quick-thinking, patience and compassion, which led to another member of the public being brought to safety from a dangerous situation.

Sergeant Mike Godley was given a Royal Humane Society Award for his involvement in providing first aid and CPR to a man who had fallen from a third-floor balcony, while PC Mike Alchin was awarded the Area Commander’s Certificate of Congratulations for his involvement in dealing with a concern for welfare incident involving a young child.

Inspector Jo Nelson, Detention Officers Gary Thorne and Steven Eckersall, Sergeant Chantal Miller and PCs, Jack Evans and James McGachie, were all awarded the Area Commander’s Certificate of Congratulations.

Working as a team, Insp Nelson and DOs Thorne and Eckersall provided initial first aid to an individual who had suffered a medical episode and began fitting in their cell. Sgt Miller and PCs, Evans and McGachie, came to assist, and between them performed CPR on the prisoner, continuing to do so even after the ambulance arrived.

A police officer from Thames Valley, PC Abigail Dunn, was awarded the Area Commander’s Certificate of Congratulations for her actions during an incident whilst on the beach during a holiday on the Island. Officers from the South Wight Neighbourhoods Policing Team arrested a man on Sandown beach following an allegation of an indecent exposure. The man became violent and resisted arrest. However, PC Dunn ran over to assist local officers, despite being on holiday and off duty.

Police Staff Investigator Louisa Parkin was awarded the Area Commander’s Certificate of Congratulations for her tenacity, dedication, and consistent high standard of work when dealing with a significant number of investigations.

Finally, PC James Carey picked up two Area Commander Certificates of Congratulations.

The first related to his efforts in identifying and arresting an offender, in Ryde, who had committed multiple burglaries, criminal damage, and was also a knife-carrier. His second certificate related to his efforts to investigate and secure charges and convictions for a complex criminal damage case, which saw a Grade 2 listed building suffer up to £300,000 worth of damage.