Off-duty officer who saved a child's life was presented with an award

An off-duty police officer who helped save the life of a child in Maidstone and a call handler who helped a vulnerable person in Dover were recipients at the latest Chief Constable’s Awards Ceremony.

The event, held at the Kent Police College on Tuesday 26 September 2023 recognises Kent Police officers and staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

Among them was Detective Superintendent Sam Haspell who helped save the life of a child while she was off-duty.

Life-saving actions

Det Supt Haspell was in Maidstone in November 2022 when she heard a woman crying from inside a house. The woman spoke little English but was shouting for help saying her little boy was not breathing.

She ran to the house, identifying herself as an off-duty police officer, where she grabbed the child and placed him over her shoulder, unblocking his airway.

Det Supt Haspell then placed him on the sofa and put him into the recovery position, allowing his airways to start to fully clear.

After a short while, he became conscious and began breathing again, and Det Supt Haspell provided advice to the mother on how to keep the boy cool so that he remained calm, whilst she monitored his breathing. Det Supt Haspell also spoke to ambulance operators to update them on his condition before the crew arrived.

The boy was subsequently transferred to hospital where he remained for a few days under observations. He has since made a full recovery.

Det Supt Haspell was presented with an award from the Royal Humane Society for her decisive actions that day which contributed to saving the life of a young child.

Georgia English was only on her tenth shift since joining the Force Control Room when a call came in from a member of public reporting that she had come across a person in distress on Dover Cliffs in May 2023.

Georgia was able to use her skills to find a location for the caller as they did not know where they were so patrols could be sent.

Caller in distress

Whilst Georgia was recording all the information, she reassured the caller that she had done the right thing by calling 999. Fifteen minutes into the call, Georgia was able to speak to the person and built up a rapport with them which resulted in the person moving away from the cliff edge and to a place of safety.

Georgia was presented with a Chief Constable’s Commendation for her actions that day, remaining calm throughout the call, meaning the situation de-escalated and resulted in a positive outcome.

Presenting the awards, Kent Police Chief Constable Tim Smith said:

‘I am extremely proud of these officers and staff who have demonstrated outstanding professionalism and dedication. ‘Their endeavours show the different and complex challenges those who work for Kent Police overcome on a daily basis. ‘It is worth noting that these are however just a few examples of the outstanding work ethic and commitment I see from all of my officers and staff on a daily basis. It is these traits that help us make a positive difference to the communities we serve.’