Police officers awarded for courage during riot

Two police officers who showed "extraordinary courage" during the violent disorder of summer 2024 have won an award for their actions.

Staffordshire Police PCs Bethany Cottrell and Natalie Millward were on the frontline during a riot in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, on 3 August last year.

Both ran towards, and disarmed, protestors before being told to withdraw as they did not have protective gear, having initially been deployed as police liasion officers.

The pair won the uniformed hero category of the Staffordshire Your Heroes Awards, which was presented during a ceremony in Stoke-on-Trent on 27 November.

The unrest in August 2024 broke out across the UK after misinformation was spread in the wake of the murder of three girls in Southport.

In Hanley, the officers faced people wielding gardening forks, baseball bats, and timber, said Staffordshire Police.

Having been told to withdraw for their safety because they did not have public order protective equipment, the two PCs then voluntarily took on new roles to continue helping their colleagues, said the force.

Both officers epitomised what it means to serve in uniform, said Ch Insp Dave Barrow.

"Their unwavering courage and selflessness minimised violence and prevented serious injury to countless individuals.

"In the face of extraordinary danger, they sacrificed their own safety to protect others."

The Your Heroes Awards, organised by the University of Staffordshire, highlight unsung heroes in communities across the county.

The uniformed hero category, which PCs Cottrell and Millward won, recognises those who have gone above and beyond their usual duties.

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