Hertfordshire officers recognised for life-saving efforts

The Royal Humane Society gives out awards for acts of bravery in the saving of a human life and also for the restoration of life by resuscitation, with the following officers receiving the honour.

PC Luke Cummins from the North Herts Neighbourhood Policing Team and PCSO Shelley Gordon, based in Letchworth

In March 2023, PC Cummins and PCSO Gordon responded to an alert reporting that a man had fallen down the stairs and was in cardiac arrest.

Both officers attended immediately and found the patient collapsed in a precarious position halfway down the stairs, with a restricted airway.

Between them they managed his head wound, whilst also conducting CPR and were subsequently joined by paramedics and the air ambulance service. The patient was taken to hospital and made a full recovery.

The award citation said that the pair’s actions not only saved the patient’s life, but also prevented him from suffering long-term consequences.

Sergeant Ricky Carter and PC Hamza Hassanein Abd-Alla, who were both based with the North Herts Scorpion Team at the time of the incident

In January 2023, police were called by the ambulance service, reporting that a female at an address in Hitchin had self-harmed and was in possession of a knife.

Sergeant Ricky Carter PC Hamza Hassanein Abd-Alla who were both based with the North Herts Scorpion Team at the time of the incident. (Image: Herts police)

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Sergeant Ricky Carter, who was a PC at the time, and PC Hamza Hassanein Abd-Alla responded to the call.

Sgt Carter made the decision to force entry to the property as they had serious concerns for the woman’s welfare. When inside, they discovered that she had taken an overdose and was also bleeding severely from a number of wounds.

While PC Hassanein Abd-Alla reported updates and requested an ambulance, Sgt Carter remained with the woman, comforting her and keeping her talking in an effort to keep her conscious.

The officers dressed her wounds and assisted paramedics, who were concerned that she might not survive due to the significant blood loss. She was taken to hospital and due to the quick actions of the officers survived.

Police Staff Molly Watson, Volume Crime Scene Examiner based at Stevenage

On Thursday, November 9, 2023, Molly Watson came across two stationary vans on the dual carriageway of Corey’s Mill, Stevenage, and assumed there had been a minor collision or a breakdown.

But she discovered that the driver of one of the vans was suffering a medical episode and the other van driver was attempting to call 999.

Molly went through the initial life-saving checks and at the time the individual appeared to have a weak pulse. She was unable to get him out of the vehicle to start CPR but managed to flag down officers in a passing Road Policing Unit vehicle to assist.

She also spotted an ambulance nearby that was stuck in traffic so ran to them to request help.

Molly then started to direct traffic, even receiving some verbal abuse from a member of the public for stopping him from getting home.

The air ambulance took the man to hospital where he underwent surgery and made a full recovery.

"Molly is a Volume Crime Scene Examiner, who is not trained to respond to emergency incidents," said Chief Superintendent Jon Simpson, Chief of Staff. 

"However, she kept an incredibly calm head and her actions undoubtedly helped to give the man a chance. Molly has upheld the qualities of the police family and the ethics which mean so much to us."

Chief Constable Charlie Hall added: "Our officers and staff are dedicated to public service and quite often their quick actions are what makes the difference between life and death.

"While their efforts are not always successful, at the very least the families of the individuals involved are able to take some comfort in knowing that everything was done to try and save their loved one and that they were not alone in their hour of greatest need.

"Every day I am proud of the work that my officers and staff do and it was a pleasure to present these well earnt awards and personally thank those involved."