BRAVE officers and quick-thinking members of the public were among those honoured at an awards ceremony in Hampshire.

Those who have shown great courage and goodwill to those most in need were recognised at the latest Chief Constable’s Awards event held in Netley.

Officers and members of the public received their awards from Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney.

She presented awards from the Royal Humane Society, as well as handing out long service medals to officers and Chief Constable Congratulations.

Chief Constable Pinkney said: “It has been humbling to hear so many examples of how our officers and members of the public, from across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, have shown such compassion to those in desperate need.

“None of the recipients of the Royal Humane Society Awards knew what the outcome would be, but without hesitation they made sure they did everything they could to save lives, sometimes putting themselves in danger by doing so.

“I am also very proud to have honoured officers for their long service and commitment to getting dangerous criminals off our streets.”

Chief Constable Congratulations went to PC Kristin McMahon, who was praised for putting victims as the centre of her work, flying to America to meet one vulnerable girl during a long-running investigation into child sex offences.

One victim did not want to engage with police, another lived in America and the defendant was “intent on disrupting the case”.

Chief Constable Congratulations and Long Service Bar awards went to Special Sergeant Dave Collins, while Long Service and Good Conduct Medals 1996 went to PC Janet Stone, Sergeant Kristen Troman and Sergeant Jason Holford.

Recipients of Royal Humane Society Awards included PC Neal Skinner and Sergeant Andrew Laverick. PC Skinner didn’t think twice before jumping off Langstone Bridge after a man fell into the waters below, and with Sgt Laverick’s help the pair completed their rescue.

PC Skinner has been awarded the RHS Testimonial in Vellum and Sgt Laverick the RHS Certificate of Commendation.

Similarly, with news of a man having fallen into a river, PC Richard Kennedy and PC Michael Batten did not hesitate to jump in after him.

The man could not be saved. At the end of his shift, PC Batten went back to the man’s address to visit his family and return his belongings.

They have been awarded the RHS Certificate of Resuscitation.

PC Steven Males, PC Trevor Peckham and PC Helen Dowling took swift action to save a man who was intending to kill himself by forcing entry to get to him.

They have been awarded the RHS Certificate of Commendation.

PC Richard Pembridge, Sergeant Phillip Hall and PC Andrew Collis similarly did everything they could to try and save a man who was fighting for his life.

They were also awarded the RHS Certificate of Commendation.

It was not just members of the public who were recognised.

Postman David Watson, pictured inset, started CPR and called the emergency services when he came across an elderly man cold and unresponsive on the ground.

Mr Watson has been awarded the RHS Certificate of Resuscitation.

Strangers Layla Appleton, Neil Tidy and Karl Semmens started CPR when they saw a motorist suffer a seizure while driving.

Ms Appleton has been awarded the RHS Certificate of Resuscitation and Mr Tidy and Mr Semmens the RHS Certificate of Commendation.

Julie Murdy, Leah Murdy and Renay Murdy acted with bravery when they spotted their neighbour’s shed on fire.

Renay, nine, alerted her mum, Julie, who ran inside to get to their neighbour while her 15-year-old daughter Leah called the emergency services. He did not survive the fire.

Ms Murdy has been awarded the RHS Testimonial in Vellum and her daughters the RHS Certificate of Commendation.

Christopher Rice talked a stranger down from an overpass on the M3, and was awarded the RHS Testimonial in Parchment.