Bedfordshire officer named bravest police woman of the year at national awards

A police officer who saved the life of a mother and child whilst off duty has been handed a national bravery award for her selfless actions.

Yesterday (Monday), PC Patrizia Vetere was awarded Bravest Police Woman of the Year at the British Association of Women in Policing ceremony in Cheshire.

In November 2020, PC Vetere was off duty when she heard a noise which alarmed her.

She forced entry into a property, where she found a woman severely injured and covered in blood, with a young child present.

Without hesitation, she disarmed the attacker and detained him for 20 minutes until officers arrived.

She said: “I heard a noise and something didn’t feel right, it wasn’t a scream or cry but something just felt off. I am not sure whether it was intuition, or an officer’s gut feeling, but something made me stop, and I am so grateful I did because I was able to save a woman’s life.

“It was an honour to receive the award, and be recognised for my actions, but also the actions of those around me.”

She was handed the award by Bryn Hughes, the father of Nicola Hughes, a Greater Manchester Police officer who was killed whilst on duty in 2012.

PC Vetere also received the bravery award at the International Association of Women Police.

Bedfordshire Police Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy said: “PC Patrizia Vetere deserves to be praised for her bravery and quick thinking in what was an intense and scary situation.

“Without a thought for herself, she intervened in what I have no doubt would have been an extremely intimidating situation.

“I am convinced that if Patrizia didn’t take the action she did, including linking in with on-duty officers, that the victim would have highly likely sustained life changing injuries, if not fatal.

“She has acted selflessly, but also in a calculated and thorough way to ensure her safety and that of those around her, displaying all the character traits of an exemplary police officer. We are so proud that she is part of Bedfordshire Police.”

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