PC who rescued vulnerable woman up for award

PC Tom Vinall is in the running for the National Police Bravery Awards 2025

A Kent Police officer has received an award nomination after entering a hazardous building to help a vulnerable woman.

PC Tom Vinall is in the running for the National Police Bravery Awards 2025, the Police Federation said.

He was nominated after helping rescue a woman sat on a building ledge at a derelict site in May 2024, according to the police officer representative body.

Kent Chief Constable Tim Smith said PC Vinall "demonstrated the finest qualities of a police officer".

PC Vinall was one of the first officers at the early morning incident and entered the hazardous building, despite it being dark and containing debris, following a passer-by's report of a woman entering the site, the federation said.

During the incident he made contact with the at-risk woman, who was on a ledge, and built a rapport, according to the federation.

It said this allowed PC Vinall to eventually remove the woman from danger and help her into the care of medical and mental health support agencies.

Mr Smith said he was "very proud" of PC Vinall for putting the woman's safety "ahead of his own".

Chair of the Kent Police Federation, Neil Mennie, said the incident showed "why policing is about far more than just catching criminals".

PC Vinall "demonstrated the importance of care and empathy when dealing with vulnerable people", he added.

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