Awards were presented to 37 police officers and staff, as well as one police dog, during Gloucestershire Constabulary's 31st Awards for Excellence ceremony.

The ceremony, held at Police Headquarters at Waterwells, Quedgeley, was hosted by Chief Constable Dr Timothy Brain, who said each award recipient justly deserved the recognition they had been given.

He said: "We rightly expect our officers and staff to perform at their best in their day to day work, but there are occasions when people go above and beyond the course of their normal duties.

"On those occasions it is only right that they receive extra reward and recognition.

"That is why we are proud to hold our Awards for Excellence and honour those individuals publicly for their endeavours.

"I thank each and every one of them for their efforts."

The first of the recipients to receive an award was PC Danny Andreassen who was highly commended for his actions in connection with the robbery of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society in Wotton-under-Edge.

Along with DC Nicholas Meeks, PCs Nick Willetts and Martin Fowler, who received Commendations, and PCs Justin Parnell and Amanda Dearlove, Inspector Ian Phillips, Sergeant Ray Pallant and Miss Denise Miller, who received Certificates of Merit for their actions, PC Andreassen was instrumental in apprehending the armed robber.

On Tuesday 25 April 2006 a report was received of a man with a gun entering the Cheltenham & Gloucester Building Society and demanding money. A detailed description of the offender was given.

Officers were deployed to the area and commenced an initial search of the town centre. Armed officers established a rendezvous point at the Fire Station in Wotton. As he was making his way to the rendezvous point PC Danny Andreassen carried out a check of a vehicle. Whilst waiting for the results of the check he spotted a white male walking away from the Town Centre. He was carrying a white satchel bag slung over his shoulder which PC Andreassen noticed was full. Whilst this male did not exactly fit the description he was suspicious of him due to his manner. PC Andreassen informed the other units of his suspicions but was concerned for public safety. He kept observations on the male and requested that other officers stop the male further up the street.

The male then came into PC Willetts' view at the rendezvous point and with PC Fowler he approached the male. They engaged the male in conversation but were not happy with his explanations as to why he was in Wotton. They informed him that he fitted the description of a male involved in a robbery earlier that day. They took the male back to their police vehicle to carry out checks and to search the male. PC Fowler commenced a search of the male's bag and on opening it PC Fowler saw a bright orange coat. As he found this the male admitted to the offence. The bag he was carrying contained a Blonde wig, Orange jacket, gun and money from the Building Society.

The offender was subsequently detained and arrested then conveyed to Gloucester Police Station. The offender was suspected of an earlier Building Society raid in the City and resulted in a number of links to robberies across the Country.

Constables Andrew Wood and Antony Hunt were also highly commended for their courage and bravery in rescuing two elderly people trapped in a sinking car during a flood in Gloucester.

Both officers battled against time and the elements to rescue the pensioners after their car became submerged in water at around 7 to 9 feet deep during a flood in Tredworth.

After pulling the pensioners from the car PC Hunt performed essential first aid to a serious injury to the elderly woman's leg and called for Ambulance assistance.

PC Danny Andreassen received a further Commendation for his work during a siege on a boat in Lydney harbour in July this year.

Dog handler Danny Andreassen played an active part in this siege after a man aboard the boat demanded to see his pet dog or he would take his life by blowing the boat up.

PC Andreasson had the difficult task of locating the dog, which was in Oxford, and transporting it to Lydney.

When the dog arrived PC Andreassen used his expertise as a dog handler to use the animal to calm down the man and encouraged him to come towards the shoreline in an inflatable boat where he gave himself up.

Detective Sergeant Barbara Harrison was commended for her work in assisting the Metropolitan Police in investigations following the London bombings on July 7 2005.

She was deployed on mutual aid to the Met Anti Terrorist Branch for almost a year and was a key player in the investigations.

PC George Lager, from Cirencester received a Commendation for his actions at a suicide in March 2006.

PC Lager showed exemplary conduct, involving both courage and bravery when he found the body of a close friend who had hung himself.

Putting aside his own shock and personal grief he remained focussed and professional. He secured the scene and sought advice on cutting the rope and resuscitation on his friend. He identified a telephone message left for him by the deceased and in consideration of the family personally volunteered to visit the family and explain the circumstances. He also secured the deceased's vehicle and took possession of the suicide note.

PC Lager was also commended for his role in bringing a violent patient under control at a doctor's surgery in Fairford despite being attacked viciously himself.

PC Gavin Davis was commended for his professional conduct at an incident in Brockworth in June.

Despite being off duty PC Davis foiled an attempt to steal petrol from a filling station which led to the arrest of two prolific offenders who were since charged with 17 offences of burglary, disqualified driving and taking a vehicle without consent.

PC Alan Poole, of Gloucester, was commended for his actions during a foiled armed robbery at a snooker club in the city.
During the undercover operation PC Poole was confronted by a man armed with a samurai sword.
Despite being in danger PC Poole chased the offender and apprehended him.

Section Officer Steven Lindsay was commended for his bravery and professionalism during an incident in Dursley in August 2006 when he apprehended a violent offender despite being head-butted three times and suffering from concussion.

PC Rory Jarret was given a commendation for an incident when he risked his life rescuing a man from his burning flat in Coleford.

Awards were also presented to members of the restructuring team who worked on proposals for Force restructuring during the last quarter of 2005 through to the first quarter of 2006.

The process for this team began in September 2005 with the publication of the HMIC report 'Closing the Gap'.

A core team was established, with specialists drawn from across the force to assist.

Throughout the process the team and individuals had to balance the difficult political atmosphere in which the whole process was taking place, with a wide variety of contrary views being put forward by their own colleagues in the region.

Recipients of this award were Chief Inspector Dave Blakeman, Detective Superintendent Rachel Jones, DCI Geoff Brooks, PS Marcus Griffiths, Supt Jerry Foster-Turner, former D Ch/Supt John Jeynes, Mike Barrow, John Shepherd, Peter Skelton, Anna Jennison-Phillips, and Superintendent Paul Collins.

DC Tesheen Nawaz received a certificate of merit for her involvement in a sensitive and complex child abuse case.

A Quality of Service award was presented to PC Karen Dawkins following her nomination for the Probationer of the Year award.

PC Dawkins of Brockworth INA has worked tirelessly on foot patrol to combat anti-social behaviour, often dealing with large groups of youths who have been drinking. This has assisted in reducing the number of incidents involving anti-social behaviour and nuisance on the INA.

Detective Inspector Steve Porter also received a quality of service award for his work with the South West Forces Casualty Bureau.

In 2003 Detective Superintendent Berry identified that whilst Casweb and the associated MIRWEB had been rolled out to Forces, no one was taking the lead from a user perspective to ensure that it was fit for purpose in Force or joined up across the South West. In order to facilitate this process Detective Superintendent Berry took over the role of Chair of the South West Casualty Bureau Group.

Inspector Steve Porter facilitated the Working Group formed in January 2004 to produce the Regional Agreement. In a short space of time this was developed. This agreement has been recognised as national best practice and a benchmark for other ACPO regions to follow.

The agreement was -*test*-('")ed when the SW Region mobilised on three occasions in 2005. On 7th July, to the terrorist attack in London. On 21st July to support the Metropolitan Police Service in the failed attacks in the capital. On 23rd July at the request of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to deal with support in relation to the Terrorist attacks on Sharm al-Sheikh.

Former Chief Inspector David Peake received an award for his outstanding contribution to hostage negotiation in Gloucestershire over a period of nine years.

As a PC, David attended a number of incidents that involved suicide interventions, including a number at Westgate Bridge, Gloucester. On each occasion without formal training he successfully talked the individuals down. In 1996 he was highly commended for successfully rescuing a woman who threatened to jump off a road bridge in Churchdown. David attended the National Hostage Negotiator course at Hendon in 1997. He then took the lead role in a number of negotiation deployments, including support for firearms interventions and suicide interventions.

David attended a number of notable incidents over the years, including a man armed with a Samurai sword. There are many incidents which demonstrate his skills and his outstanding contribution continued until July this year.

Hostage negotiation is mentally and physically challenging and also carries with it a personal and professional risk. Officers volunteer for the role and provide direct support for critical, life threatening incidents ranging from suicide intervention to terrorism.

In addition to his Quality of Service Award Mr Peake was also presented with a Long Service Plaque from Hostage & Crisis Negotiators UK.

Additional awards were given to Sergeant John Skilling, PC Darren Peters, PC Jenny Kadodia, PC Tina Holland and PC Nicky Dannatt from the Schools Involvement Unit, in recognition of their work in supporting young people of the county.

The Unit covers all LEA schools and also provides a service to reintegration units, pupil referral units and private schools. There is considerable demand for their services and letters of appreciation are regularly received.

Although members of the Unit have reduced their hours, they have still managed to reach in excess of 30,000 pupils per year. They have sustained this due to their willingness to work with maximum flexibility. In fact the last ten years the Unit has delivered presentations to well over 250,000 young people.

In addition, the officers' co-ordinate the Outward Bound Bursary Scheme and the Chief Constable's Citizenship Award.

Officers of the Unit also offer professional guidance, lesson plans and resources to colleagues who are undertaking work with schools, pre-school groups and out of school organisations such as guides and scouts.

Recently the Unit has developed an initiative in partnership with the LEA, schools and county council to reduce the levels of theft and kindred offences within schools, currently values in excess of £140,000 per year. By the end of March 2007 each of the schools in the county will have 'smartwater' technology installed by officers of the Unit.