SWINDON police officers who risked their own lives to drag a suicidal man from freezing water in a storm drain and tackled a knife-wilding man who had also tried to commit suicide, as well as officers who have put in hundreds of extra hours in the fight against crime have been honoured at the Wiltshire Force Awards.

Three Swindon officers, PC Kathryn Dixon, PC Craig Beales and PC Christopher Miller received the Chief Constable’s Certificate of Commendation, while Outstanding Teamwork awards went to PC Sean Magee, PC Sarah Ennis and Michaela Gunn, who all work in the town.

PC Dixon, PC Magee and PC Samuel Van Den Broek were all honoured after they fought to save the life of a man who was threatening to drown himself in floodwater in a storm drain in March. The man was fighting firefighters and police who had spent 45 minutes trying to coax him out of the freezing water. Deciding they had to take action, PC Magee tried to distract him so PCs Dixon and Van Den Broek could rush into the drain and pull him to safety.

Due to the amount of time the individual had been in the freezing water concerns were raised with regards to the possibility of serious harm due to hypothermia but despite this the officers were prepared to go into the water to carry out the rescue.

In an incident in Royal Wootton Basset in January, PC Beales found himself confronted by an aggressive man waving a large carving knife when he was among a team called to deal with a row between two men at their home.

Local crime team investigator PC Ennis felt she and colleague Michael Gunn had received their awards for triumphing in the face of adversity, as their team of just four usually has a group of ten.

"I was pretty surprised to receive this to be honest as it is our job, we just get on and do it," she said.

"Usually we have six more members but our numbers were depleted meaning we had to really work efficiently as a team and we really did pull together well.

"We have to deal with people in custody, where the clock is really ticking, interviewing offenders, making full files for the crown court, so it was very full on.

"I am absolutely delighted to have received this recognition along with my co-workers for their superb efforts.

"We have had 12-hour shifts at times but when you are in this tight-knit unit you want to work for your teammates and get the job done."

The awards were presented at Cumberwell Golf Club in Bradford-On-Avon by Chief Constable Mike Veale, who said: "Almost every day I hear about the fantastic work the Wiltshire police force puts in. Your acts of courage and kindness are something to be proud of.

"I am immensely proud that Wiltshire is one of the safest counties in the UK, in one of the safest countries in the world. The selfless work you do makes me extremely honoured to be here tonight.

"Stories like we have heard tonight reminds me why I joined the police force, way back in 1984. It is incredibly uplifting and for that I thank you all."

As well as handing out awards to officers and civilian staff, he also honoured members of the public, including Bethanna Branston, from Marlborough, who received both a Wiltshire Police award and a Royal Humane Society award after she stepped forward to save the life of a man who collapsed at Swindon Bus Station.

Carer Miss Branston, of Cherry Orchard, sprang into action when she arrived in the bus station on Carfax Close, last September and saw the man lying on the floor. She saved his life by carrying out CPR.

At the time she said: “People were just looking at him, no one thought to call 999 or anything. I suppose the adrenaline just kicked in. If I had walked by I would never have been able to forgive myself and in turn I saved a life.”

Among those thanking officers and civilians for the bravery and hard work at the ceremony were Police and Crime Commissioner for Wiltshire and Swindon Angus Macpherson, Assistant Chief Constables Kier Pritchard and Paul Mills and Wiltshire's Lord Lieutenant Sarah Troughton.