Officers and members of public recognised for bravery at Police Scotland awards

Twins who saved a girl from drowning and a man who faced down a robber with a gun were among those honoured for ‘bravery’ at a police ceremony.

Brave members of the public and officers who went above and beyond the line of duty were recognised at the Chief Constable’s Bravery and Excellence Awards on Friday.

Twins Jonathon and Christopher Easton saw a 15-year-old girl walking into the sea while they were playing football near Ayr esplanade, South Ayrshire in July 2021.

Sensing something was wrong, the pair went into the water and found her unconscious and unresponsive.

Pulling her to the safety of shallow water, they were then helped by friends who removed her from the water.

She has since made a full recovery.

Also recognised was Fraser Ritchie, from Fife, who faced down what appeared to be a gunman robbing his local Kirkcaldy grocery store in February 2022.

Robert Smale was also given an award after witnessing a vehicle drive off a pier into the water at Saltcoats Harbour in January 2022.

On what was a dark and cold morning, he entered the water and rescued the driver.

Police officers who have gone above and beyond the call of duty were also thanked during the ceremony at force headquarters in Tulliallan.

PC Euan MacLeod was on patrol in Dundee in September 2021 when he and a colleague saw smoke billowing from a flat, with a man sitting on the window ledge inside the burning building.

They entered the building, which was quickly becoming engulfed in flames, to rescue the man and other residents as they awaited for the arrival of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

PCs Lee Brown, Sharon Bradbury and Gary Drewett were recognised by the chief constable for their part in stopping a knifeman in East Kilbride, South Lanarkshire, after being called to the scene in September 2021.

Sir Iain Livingstone said policing is a “relentless but hugely rewarding vocation in which you can help people and change lives for the better”.

He added: “These awards illustrate the bravery and professionalism demonstrated by police officers and staff right across Scotland every day.

“I am grateful for their commitment to public service and dedication to duty.”