BTP officers, police community support officers and police staff from the South West, East and West Midlands and Wales have received special commendations at an official ceremony held in Birmingham.

PCs Andrew Boston and Heidi Withey were commended for their bravery in dealing with an intruder at Bristol Temple Meads BTP office, supported by colleague PC Mark Jukes. The offender, who was later sectioned under the Mental Health Act, was carrying a 12-inch knife and posed a threat to life. PC Withey was commended for her quick thinking and alerting other officers.

Also commended for arrests at Bristol Temple Meads station were PCs Jonathon Childs and David Richardson Aitken and PCSO John Gale.

Dealing with a stabbing incident at Malvern Link station brought commendations for temporary detective sergeant Andrew Irwin-Porter, temporary detective constable Richard Day and detective constables Danny Murphy and Stephen Eyers. PCs John Brown and Tony O’Farrell were commended for reduction of graffiti crime in the Exeter area, and PC Dean Jeffrey for drug arrests.

From BTP West Midlands Cross City Neighbourhood Policing Team, PCSOs David Johnson, Dan Luczak and Rob Winfer received commendations, as did PC Marcos Dominguez of Birmingham’s Operational Support Unit, PC Steve Berry of Shrewsbury and Birmingham CCTV technician Dave Wilson.

Retired PC Stephen Woodcock of Birmingham was presented with a long service certificate and plaque, and police staff commendations awarded to area HR manager Kim Ward, training manager Dave Harding, HR officer Paul Glebioska and occupational health manager Bernadette Dunne.

From BTP East Midlands, detective sergeant Bill Henry of Nottingham was commended for bringing a persistent sexual predator to justice, and Derby-based PC Elizabeth Illingworth for detection of suitcase theft.

Cardiff PCs Mark Dickens, Paul Morse and Steven Lawrence were commended for bravery during a serious football disorder incident at Cardiff Central station, and Cardiff-based CID detective constable Philip Pembridge and temporary detective constable Kevin Duckett were also commended.

Officiating, ACC Alan Pacey said: “I am delighted to recognise the excellent work of our officers, staff and rail industry partners. We live in a complex world of competing demands and performance targets in which a lot of decent people are doing a very decent job.”