Police Bravery Awards at Town Hall

Date published: 18 November 2005

The Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Ashley Dearney and the Mayoress Beryl Wright, together with Chief Constable Michael Todd will present commendations for bravery along with long service and good conduct awards at Rochdale Town Hall on Monday 21 November.

Among the recipients will be Constable Mark Challender for his outstanding courage and bravery when he rescued two adults and two children from a house fire and Constables Jonathan Ellis, Gina Parkinson and Andrew Robinson for their commitment and professionalism during an investigation, which led to a prolific sex offender being jailed for ten years.

Also due to receive awards are Inspector Duncan Thorpe and former Constable Helen Poucher for their hard work and dedication during a drugs operation, which resulted in 15 offenders being sentenced to a total of 41 years and £170,000 being recovered from proceeds of crime.

Details of the recipients of the awards:

Chief Constable’s Royal Humane Society Award

This award is presented in recognition of those that have placed themselves at personal risk in saving or endeavouring to save a life by rescues from drowning, asphyxia and accidents of various kinds.

Recipient:
Constable Mark Challender – Rochdale division

The Chief Constable awards his Commendation and presents the Royal Humane Society Testimonial on Vellum to Constable Mark Challender for his outstanding courage and bravery when he rescued two adults and two children from a house fire.

In the afternoon of 24 March 2004, Constable Challender responded to a report of a house fire in Rochdale and on arrival heard shouts for help from the occupants trapped inside.  A neighbour had already made an unsuccessful attempt to enter the building and the fire service was still on its way having been delayed in heavy traffic.

By this time, the house had become engulfed with smoke and flames could be seen upstairs and, aware of the need for immediate action, Constable Challender used a neighbour’s ladder to break a window and enter the building.  He made his way up the smoked filled stairs and searched around until he located two children in a bedroom.   He brought them downstairs to safety and the paramedics, who had just arrived at the scene, took over and administered treatment.    

Constable Challender re-entered the house and together with the paramedics located and evacuated one of the parents.  The second adult was rescued shortly afterwards by the fire fighters.  

The two adults and two children were treated at the scene by the paramedics until they were stable enough to be taken to Rochdale Infirmary for further emergency treatment.   Both parents were detained in a critical condition before being transferred to Halifax Hospital and one of the children remained at the Infirmary, whilst the other was transferred to Pendlebury Children’s Hospital in a critical condition.  They have all since made a full recovery.

The two paramedics who assisted with the rescue were treated for smoke inhalation and Constable Challender was treated with oxygen at the scene before being taken to the Infirmary for treatment for smoke inhalation.

In recognition of his bravery, Constable Challender has also been awarded a County Fire Officer’s Commendation.  

Chief Constable’s Citation of Merit

The Citation of Merit is awarded for acts of bravery or excellent work or service to the public by police officers or members of police staff.

Recipients:
Constable Jonathan Ellis – Rochdale division
Constable Gina Parkinson – Rochdale division
Constable Andrew Robinson – Rochdale division

The Chief Constable awards his Citation of Merit to Constables Jonathan Ellis, Gina Parkinson and Andrew Robinson, for their commitment and professionalism during an investigation into the offences of a prolific sex offender.

In August 2004, police received a report that a man had been sexually abusing four girls over a two to three year period.  The girls, who were between the ages of seven and ten years, had informed their parents that a family friend had been indecently assaulting them.

Constables Parkinson and Robinson carried out a house search, which revealed several video tapes, compact discs and photographs featuring the four girls and the offender engaged in sex acts.

During the investigation, Constables Ellis, Parkinson and Robinson viewed the video footage, but due to the sexual nature of the recordings, Constables Parkinson and Robinson were unable to continue.

Despite the unpleasantness of the task, Constable Ellis single-handedly continued to view the tapes, and after watching 12 hours of footage he identified 3 hours and 41 minutes of film showing sexual abuse.  The offender was interviewed, and after he had admitted the sexual offences, Constable Ellis compiled a high quality prosecution file.  Throughout the entire investigation, Constable Ellis also provided excellent support to the victims and their families.

On 17 January 2005, the offender appeared before Manchester Crown Court charged with various sexual offences, and after pleading guilty was sentenced to ten years imprisonment together with a sexual offences prevention order.

The enquiry, which was conducted with great diligence and attention to detail and involved long hours of painstaking evidence gathering of a very unpleasant nature, resulted in the removal of an extremely dangerous sex offender and predatory paedophile from society.

Chief Constable’s Citation of Merit

Recipients:
Inspector Duncan Thorpe – Centrex
Former Constable Helen Poucher – Rochdale division

The Chief Constable awards his Citation of Merit to Inspector Duncan Thorpe, former Constable Helen Poucher and four other officers for their commitment and dedication during Operation Maxima, which targeted persons dealing in illegal drugs in the Rochdale area.    

Operation Maxima was established to identify the activities of the street and middle tier dealers and to gather intelligence of the drug dealing networks.  The team of six, led by Inspector Thorpe set about collating evidence against identified dealers in preparation of a strike date.

The officers remained focused and committed as they were faced with a number of problems.  They were responsible for safeguarding the covert officers working in the area, and obtaining sufficient footage to identify the targets whilst keeping track of the large number of exhibits and arranging examinations.

As a result of the hard work and commitment of the officers, over fifty offenders have been identified, 32 of which have been arrested to date.  Over 240 items of drugs were purchased which have all been examined making this the largest single test purchase operation in the Force to date.

Throughout the operation, the team worked extremely hard, and despite the fact that only one of the officers had previously been involved in this type of operation, they all embraced their individual responsibilities.  They ensured that all aspects of the operation were dealt with in a professional manner and the teamwork and high level of performance from the officers exceeded all expectations of them.

After being charged with various drug offences, 15 offenders were sentenced to serve a total of 41 years, and £170,000 has been recovered from the proceeds of crime.  A further 17 offenders await to appear at court.

Chief Constable’s Citation of Merit

Recipients:
Chief Inspector Darren Shenton – Trafford division
Sergeant Andrew Butterworth – Rochdale division
Sergeant Andrew Hutchinson – Rochdale division
Sergeant Jared Stephen Sudworth – Rochdale division
Constable Russell Scott Clarke – Rochdale division
Constable Desmond Henry – Rochdale division
Constable Andrew John Parkin – Rochdale division
Constable Andrew Watson – Rochdale division

The Chief Constable awards his Citation of Merit to Chief Inspector Darren Shenton, Sergeants Andrew Butterworth, Andrew Hutchinson, and Jared Sudworth, Constables Russell Clarke, Desmond Henry, Andrew Parkin and Andrew Watson and two other officers, who developed and delivered a project to increase the detection of crime.

In October 2003 Rochdale Division was selected as one of eight pilot sites targeted to improve the investigation of burglary, robbery and vehicle crime offences.  

Since the project’s commencement in April 2004, its success is reflected by a 9.9 per cent reduction in overall crime, with 3,000 fewer offences being committed.  The divisions’ performance has improved to the extent that every crime reduction and detection target has been exceeded; 41 per cent less burglaries and 24.8 per cent less robberies have been committed, with a rise in detection rates of 25.9 per cent.  In addition to these improvements the model has also freed up in excess of 30,000 officer hours, allowing an increased visibility of police on the streets.

As a direct result of their professionalism, leadership and innovation, their efforts have been identified as a beacon of best practice for investigative processes into volume crime.
Their success has brought national recognition by representatives from the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit, Street Crime Action Group, Police Standards Unit, HMIC and numerous police forces throughout the country, and is continuing to evolve, providing long-term benefits to the police service.

Chief Constable’s Citation of Merit

Recipients:
Constable Stephen Baldam – Rochdale division

The Chief Constable awards his Citation of Merit to Constable Stephen Baldam and his colleague for their professionalism, commitment and enthusiasm during Operation Texas.  

In March 2004, investigations commenced into the activities of the main team that had been actively involved in the supply of class A drugs, heroin and crack cocaine over a number of years in the Rochdale area.  Despite many searches and a substantial amount of cash being recovered, there was insufficient evidence to bring charges in the absence of any drugs.  

Operation Texas commenced and Sergeant Hayden and a colleague without any previous experience in this type of investigation, were tasked with investigating the money laundering activities of the gang.   The officers identified houses purchased by a property developer on behalf of one of the gang members and the conveyances were undertaken by a solicitor’s office in Cornwall.  The enquiry also identified a further 20 properties owned by a gang member which may become subject of the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The evidence needed to prove the offence of money laundering involved enquiries with the Inland Revenue and DSS, for confirmation that the offenders had no visible means of income.   Searches were carried out of the properties of all the offenders, and the search of the solicitor’s office necessitated the accompaniment of an independent solicitor to assist with the identification of items of legal privilege.  In excess of 500 documents were seized as exhibits and a vast amount of unused material had to be catalogued in a comprehensive disclosure schedule. The officers have conducted a very professional investigation with limited resources and produced a complex prosecution file.

One gang member has been charged with six money-laundering offences and a court date is awaited, whilst another will have their assets seized by the North West Regional Asset Team.

Chief Constable’s Commendation

This is presented to police officers and police staff in recognition of exceptional police work or duty requiring outstanding courage and bravery.

Recipients:
Gordon Brierley

The Chief Constable awards his Commendation to Gordon Brierley for his outstanding contribution to the National Association of Retired Police Officers (NARPO).

Shortly after retiring from the Police service in 1982, Gordon Brierley became the Secretary and Treasurer of the Rochdale branch of NARPO.  The aim of the Association is not only to safeguard the rights of its members promoting measures for their welfare, but also to provide a support network for retired police officers and their families.

During the past 22 years, Gordon Brierley has voluntarily and single-handedly provided help and support to 60 retired officers’ families, visiting them personally at times of bereavement, offering advice and providing assistance with funeral arrangements.  As part of this support, he also advises on financial issues such as pensions and benefits.

Gordon Brierley works tirelessly for the welfare of members, organising social events and day excursions throughout the year.  At Christmas, not only does he provide entertainment events he also distributes Christmas parcels to police widows and widowers.

Mr Brierley’s outstanding commitment to the Police Service has undoubtedly not only contributed to the success of NARPO, but also to the lives of countless retired officers.  

St John Ambulance Award

This award is in recognition of those who have used their knowledge of first aid to save or attempt to save the life of those suffering from heart failure or injury.

Recipient:
Constable Paul Lorreyn Daffern – Rochdale division

The Chief Constable presents the St John Ambulance Letter of Appreciation to Constable Paul Daffern and his colleague in recognition of their professionalism when they administered first aid to a male who had collapsed.

At 4.30pm on 9 June 2005, Constable Daffern and his colleague responded to a report of a drunken and aggressive male who had taken an overdose at premises in Belfield, Rochdale.  On arrival they found the man in a highly agitated and threatening state, and after officers had calmed the male down he told them that he felt unwell.  An ambulance was immediately called, but as the officers were escorting the male outside for some air, he collapsed.

Realising the man had stopped breathing, Constable Daffern and his colleague administered mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions until the arrival of an ambulance.

The man was conveyed to Rochdale Infirmary, where after being treated for the ingestion of 24 painkillers, he was later released and has since made a full recovery.

Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

This medal is awarded to serving police officers who have completed 22 years service during which their character and conduct have been of a very high standards.

Recipients:
Inspector Meriel Lindsay Buglass – Rochdale division
Sergeant Terence Dunning – Bury division
Constable Philip Anthony Foster – Specialist Operations Branch
Constable John Pawsey – Rochdale division

Police Staff Long Service Certificate

This certificate is awarded to members of police staff who have completed 20 years of loyal service with the Police Authority.  Thereafter for each additional 10 years service, a certificate, lapel badge and gift voucher is awarded.

Recipients:
Allan Beresford Shepherd for 30 years service – Rochdale division