British Women in Policing Award for officer
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PC Brettell, who has served Essex Police for more than 20 years, was recognised for Bravery at the British Women in Policing Awards 2023.
Roads Policing Officer Gill Brettell is a runner-up in the British Women in Policing Awards 2023
PC Gill Brettell received her accolade from the British Association of Women in Policing (BWAP) at a ceremony at the Carden Park Hotel in Cheshire on Monday 5 June.
PC Brettell, who has served Essex Police for more than 20 years, was recognised for Bravery and was presented the certificate by Chief Constable Michelle Skeer, President of BAWP.
PC Gill Brettell said:
"I am absolutely delighted and honoured to be a runner-up in the BWAP award.”
“Throughout my career, I’ve been grateful for all the opportunities Essex Police has afforded me, from being the first woman PC Road Scene Manager, a pursuit driver and tutoring new traffic officers.
“And this nomination is something I’m incredibly proud of.”
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PC Brettell was nominated for an incident that she dealt with on Friday 11 February last year when she attended a collision on the M11 involving a van and a moped. After she assisted the rider to move to safety, he walked off and disappeared into a wooded area. Concerned for his safety, the Roads Policing officer went searching for him in the dark.
When she found him, instead of accepting her help, the man assaulted our officer and she sustained a broken hand. During the arrest, the man threw our officer over his shoulder and straddled her, pinning her to the ground.
“Thankfully, I had called NPAS to help me look for the rider,” she explained.
“They captured the whole incident and were able to direct Roads Policing colleagues to my location before detaining him.”
The man was charged with assault on an emergency worker and jailed for six months.