SYP Operational Support

20/05/2026

Some of our fi****ms officers who will be receiving a bravery award this week.

Have a read of how they responded to an incident that saved a woman's life.

We're incredibly proud 💙

Four officers who saved a woman’s life after she was hit by a train have won South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards.

Looking Forward To Our 2026 Awards - on Thursday... and delighted to be revealing our first winners.

On the morning of 12 August 2024, fi****ms officers PC Christopher Bell, PC Ben Hawley (pictured right), PC Carl Holden (pictured left) and a colleague responded to an emergency incident at Doncaster Station, where a woman was critically injured when she was hit by a train.

The officers arrived at the station and were faced with a busy platform of commuters, including several who had watched the horrific incident unfold.

PC Hawley said: “We ran past ambulance and fire services on the platform. I just shouted to Transport: ‘This line off? Are we safe to get down?’. Ultimately there was a lady under the train and she was still alive. So we've got to get on to that and deal with it.”

Working as a team, the officers climbed down onto the track with first aid equipment. PC Holden, PC Bell and PC Hawley all assisted in applying tourniquets to the woman's legs - luckily, fi****ms officers receive advanced training in techniques such as using tourniquets.

PC Bell, PC Hawley and his colleague then crawled under the train to offer further support to the woman, who also had further serious injuries.

PC Bell recalled: “I had to take my stab vest off to get under the train. My colleague was already under there, and then we manoeuvred up towards the woman together, leaving Ben and Carl continuing to try and finish the tourniquets on her legs. When we got to the top she was conscious, but you could tell she'd got a head injury and at that point we were continuing to check her rest of her body, because we didn't know what other injuries she'd got.

“It was surprising that she was conscious and talking. She could tell us her name, but was massively in shock. The paramedic arrived and gave us instructions, but ultimately he said he couldn't deal with her under the train. We only had about 1ft clearance above our heads, so Ben came in from the other side and the three of us moved her inch by inch so we could support her head.”

The woman was taken to hospital, and NHS surgeons who treated the woman contacted police to say that "without the officers' intervention, the woman's life would have been lost".

PC Bell said: “That was nice to hear. I've got 20 years in the job, and you very rarely get recognition, you don't really expect to hear anything back afterwards.”

When he heard they were receiving Federation Awards, PC Bell said: “We were completely surprised. Last year, we received Royal Humane Society Awards, so it was a bit of a surprise to actually find out that we were getting something else.”

PC Hawley said that receiving a Federation award was “humbling”, adding: “It just reassures you that, despite all the negativity that's out there about policing, we do some really good things.”

South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent said: “This was a truly harrowing incident, and the four officers took a personal risk in climbing under the train, but they realised the woman needed immediate first aid. They showed true courage, professionalism and dedication that day, and they succeeded in saving the woman’s life.”

PC Bell, PC Holden and PC Hawley will attend the South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards 2026 on Thursday 21 May.

At the event an overall winner will be announced who will travel to London for the National Police Federation Bravery Awards in July.

The South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards are in association with the National Police Healthcare Scheme.

Also sponsoring the Awards are Uniform Mortgages, Philip Williams, Niche, Police Mortgages, Serve and Protect Credit Union, Police Friendly, Irwin Mitchell, Accord, Far and Wide Mortgages, No1 CopperPot, Taylor Law and the South Yorkshire Police Group Insurance Scheme.

20/05/2026

Working on the frontline isn't without its challenges, but we have incredible people who are the epitome of police officers and risk their own safety to save others.

We're extremely proud of our OSU Team 👮🏼💙

Three officers who rescued a man from a burning motorcycle have won South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards.

In December 2023, PC Wes Turner (pictured left) of the Roads Policing Proactive Team was on patrol in Doncaster when he suddenly saw a motorcycle that he believed had an altered numberplate and could be stolen.

The officer tried to stop the motorcycle, but the rider sped off and a pursuit started, travelling through rural roads and onto the A1. Roads policing officer PC Michael Ramsden and dog handler PC Matt Aris (pictured centre) then joined the pursuit to assist their colleague.

PC Turner continued the story: “As the suspect approached a red light, I backed off from him, gave him plenty of distance and observed as an Audi came from the near side of a junction, and the motorcyclist collided with the vehicle. Almost immediately, the fuel tank ruptured, the fuel went all over the rider and he went up in flames.”

PC Ramsden said: “It was almost like slow motion, because you could see what was going to happen, but you couldn’t do anything about it. But the minute that happened, we set to work, and tried to put out the fire.”

PC Turner recalled: “I ran straight towards him. He was on the ground, still effectively sat on the bike, but on his side, on fire. I instinctively reached forward and grabbed him, burnt my hands in the process, and pulled him away. I took my jacket off and started trying to smother the flames.”

PC Ramsden grabbed a fire extinguisher from the back of his vehicle and doused the flames, and PC Aris ran over with his first aid kit.

PC Aris said: “We, as dog handlers, are trained in a more advanced level of first aid, but nothing will prepare you for the injuries that this lad had sustained as a result of being completely engulfed in flames. Our job as police officers is to preserve life, and everything else that has happened before that is almost null and void at that point – it’s just about giving the best possible treatment and trying to save this kid's life.”

The officers continued to provide first aid until the ambulance service arrived and took the injured man to hospital, where he received treatment for several months before returning home. Despite having significant burns, he has made a remarkable recovery.

The IOPC’s investigation found that the officers had carried out a well-managed police pursuit, with no learning identified.

PC Turner suffered burns to his hands, and all three officers were affected psychologically.

PC Turner said: “Between the three of us, we've got over 60 years of policing experience, and I think there are certain jobs in your career where you go home and you think, ‘I've just been involved in something that you could see in a film.’ Once the adrenaline has worn off and you’re sitting at home with a cup of tea, you think, ‘Wow, what have I just had to deal with?’.

PC Ramsden explained: “It's camaraderie, we're a team, and although Matt's on the dog section, we work together on a regular basis and, ultimately, we're there to help people. That's our main priority, to save life and limb. So, when you do that, it’s traumatic and it’s stressful, but it is a good feeling.”

When PC Aris heard they were receiving Bravery Awards, he said: “That night we all did different things, and I appreciate the recognition that I get. However, that guy would have died there and then had Wes not put his own health at risk in order to pull him out of the flames. Mike and I had a huge involvement in his immediate treatment, but Wes put his hands into that fire.”

PC Turner said: “It is a team effort and, regardless of who was in the lead police car, they'd have done exactly the same. I'm fortunate to work with good people like this.”

South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent said: “These three officers carried out an extraordinary act of bravery, going above and beyond to save a man’s life while putting their own lives in danger.

"Pulling him out of a fire, using clothes to smother the flames and providing first aid – all these actions saved this person’s life and minimised their lifelong injuries. We are immensely proud of them.”

PC Ramsden, PC Turner and PC Aris will attend the South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards 2026 on Thursday 21 May.

At the event an overall winner will be announced who will travel to London for the National Police Federation Bravery Awards in July.

The South Yorkshire Police Federation Bravery Awards are in association with the National Police Healthcare Scheme.

Also sponsoring the Awards are Uniform Mortgages, Philip Williams, Niche, Police Mortgages, Serve and Protect Credit Union, Police Friendly, Irwin Mitchell, Accord, Far and Wide Mortgages, No1 CopperPot, Taylor Law and the South Yorkshire Police Group Insurance Scheme.

14/05/2026

We really appreciate it when people take the time to write in and say thank you 💙

One of our officers has been praised for his empathy and support after reuniting a driver with their stolen van.

The compliment read: “The traffic officer located our stolen van, and when we attended the recovery yard, he met us there, carried out some last minute checks and explained what he thinks had happened.

“I just want to say thank you for helping us get our stolen van back. Thank you for your understanding and empathy, and everything - you’re one brilliant traffic officer.”

25/04/2026

Every day we seize an average of 12 vehicles a day for being uninsured across South Yorkshire.

We can’t be everywhere, but we can be anywhere, and we will proactively patrol to take action against those who can pose a risk on our roads.

Our experience and research shows us that those who drive without insurance are more likely to take greater risks on our roads, and can be linked to criminality.

We are committed to creating safer roads and will continue to seize those who fail to insure their vehicle.

This van was seized earlier this week in Athersley South in Barnsley.

We understand that sometimes changes with policies, cars and drivers can lead to your vehicle being uninsured. You can check your insurance status at www.askMID.com.

21/04/2026

Always in our minds and hearts.

PC Matt Lannie 💙

NEWS: Remembering PC Matt Lannie

Roads Policing Officer PC Matt Lannie was the epitome of a police officer. He loved his job, served his communities with pride and had a charisma that everyone felt.

Today (21 April) marks six years since PC Lannie died while on duty in Sheffield in 2020, and we pay respect to him and the ultimate sacrifice he paid as a police officer.

He was a much-loved officer and friend, and his loss is still felt across the force. We continue to share stories and remember the laughter and joy he brought to everyone who knew him.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues and everyone who loved him 💙

13/04/2026

Who is a clever boy?!? 🐕

Everyone meet PD Taffy, a very lively part of our Dog Section.

Although he's extremely cute and will do anything for a tennis ball, his sense of smell and drive to protect and serve his communities stands out the most.

During a warrant last week on Thursday (9 April) he found over a kilogram of Class A drugs hidden in a garden in Kiveton Park during a warrant.

A small nose, but mighty results 🐾 We are always in awe of the support our dogs bring to the frontline.

09/04/2026

Excellent work by our Roads Policing Proactive Team, supported by colleagues from wider roads policing and the dog section 🙌🏼👇🏼

05/04/2026

This morning we supported the Easter Egg Run through Sheffield, starting at our Operational Support Complex.

A huge turnout of riders, for a great cause, delivering eggs and raising money for Sheffield Children's Hospital NHS and Charity 🐣

Thank you to everyone who supported the cause and gave us a wave and cheer! 👋🏼

11/03/2026