National recognition after saving woman from burning building

Six Bedfordshire Police officers have received national recognition after saving the life of a Luton woman who was inside a burning property.
L-R: PC Owen Webb, PC Myles Massiah, PC Lee Miles, Sgt Paul Chadwick, PC Andy CarlinL-R: PC Owen Webb, PC Myles Massiah, PC Lee Miles, Sgt Paul Chadwick, PC Andy Carlin
L-R: PC Owen Webb, PC Myles Massiah, PC Lee Miles, Sgt Paul Chadwick, PC Andy Carlin

PC Owen Webb, Sgt Paul Chadwick, PC Andy Carlin, PC Myles Massiah, PC Lee Miles and PC Darryl Usher have been commended by the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire.

They were were presented with their certificates by the Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police Jon Boutcher at a long service and commendation ceremony at police headquarters in Kempston on Wednesday.

On May 29 last year, police were called to reports of concerns for the safety of a woman who was inside the burning property in Leyburn Road, Luton. They saw smoke coming from the letter box and flames at the front door. The officers forced entry and ran into the property and the woman was taken to safety.

Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said: “The officers involved in this incident showed outstanding bravery, especially the two officers who entered the building, risking their own safety in order to save the woman inside.

“I am immensely proud that officers from our force have been recognised nationally for their bravery.

“It shows people across the country the high calibre of officers we have here at Bedfordshire Police.”

PC Webb and Sgt Chadwick have also been nominated for a Police Bravery Award. Their nomination will be celebrated at the Police Bravery Awards ceremony on July 14 at The Dorchester in London.

Further awards were distributed at the ceremony on Wednesday evening:

> One officer was commended for saving a woman’s life who had gone missing from hospital.

> An off-duty officer was commended for disrupting a domestic incident.

> An officer and member of police staff were commended for the part they played securing convictions for 11 offenders after unrest in Luton.

> A member of the public was commended for saving the life of a two-year-old child who fell in a canal.