Pc Ian Dibell honoured for his courage
Pc Ian Dibell has posthumously won the National Police Bravery Award for 2013.
Chief Constable Stephen Kavanagh attended the Awards, and said: “I feel great pride that Police Constable Ian Dibell has been so rightly recognised posthumously for his immense courage and sacrifice.
“It is hard to comprehend the sheer valour shown by Ian, who selflessly and knowingly putting his own life at risk to protect innocent members of the public.
“The instinct of most people in that situation would have been to run the other way but instead, Ian consciously ran towards danger to help and protect others.
Pc Ian Dibell
“Tragically he paid the ultimate sacrifice in so doing, but I know that Ian’s actions will never be forgotten by Essex Police or the people of this county.
“We all owe Ian Dibell a huge debt of gratitude and my thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues who still so keenly feel his loss.”
Pc Dibell was shot in the chest and fatally wounded in Clacton, on July 9, 2012.
Nick Alston, Police and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “It is entirely fitting and proper that Pc Ian Dibell should receive this national Police Bravery Award. There is always sadness when an award is made posthumously. But there is also great pride that, even though he was off duty, Ian acted with courage and selflessness, in the very best tradition of British policing.
“Ian died protecting the community he served as an Essex Police officer, attempting to calm a dangerous situation in a quiet residential part of Clacton.
“The family, friends and colleagues of Police Constable Ian Dibell, and the people of Essex, will forever remember this brave man and the sacrifice he made.”
Mark Smith, Essex Police Federation chairman, said: “We’re very proud of Ian’s actions. He very sadly paid the ultimate sacrifice while protecting the public he served.”
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Every day a police officer goes to work they’re putting their lives on the line. Tragically for Ian and his family that’s what happened.
“He was not even on duty but he went towards danger to protect others and that says so much about policing in this country.”
Steve Williams, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “Officers put others’ lives before their own. Sadly, as our winner’s story highlights, this can have tragic consequences.
“Pc Ian Dibell was a valiant team player; his bravery on that fateful day typifies his whole life – always putting others before himself.”
Home Secretary Theresa May said: “Ian Dibell’s death is a reminder not just of the bravery police officers show on a daily basis, but also the depth of their commitment to public service.
“Pc Dibell was off duty when he stepped in to help a neighbour in distress. He could have walked away, but he chose to put himself in harm’s way.
“His bravery, and that shown by thousands of his colleagues up and down the country, is yet another reminder that we have the best police officers in the world.”
