The Cambridgeshire Police officer nominated for a national Bravery Award says it was ‘surreal’ to be inside Downing Street.
PC Eden McClymont joined Bravery Awards nominees from across England and Wales at a reception at the Foreign Office on Thursday.
There, she met the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, and had the opportunity to chat with other officers about their stories of courage.
After the reception, Eden and her fellow nominees and their families visited Downing Street for photos and media interviews.
“The reception was really cool,” Eden said. “But I think the best part was standing outside 10 Downing Street and getting your picture. It’s quite a surreal thing.
“It’s been really nice to talk to everyone, to hear their stories and what they’ve done.
“Everyone is quite humble, thinking they don’t deserve to be here. It’s reassuring that everyone feels like that.”
Eden was nominated after single-handedly detaining a violent shoplifter until back-up could complete an arrest at a Co-op store in Peterborough.
She was just a year into her policing career when the incident happened in October (2024).
The offender launched at least 10 blows to Eden’s face and head, injuring her left eye.
He scratched Eden, drawing blood from her forehead, and verbally abused her.
The emergency button on the student officer’s radio would not activate, but she managed to contain him for nearly half an hour, eventually using her PAVA spray to bring him under control, before colleagues arrived after shop staff dialled 999.
Eden attended the Bravery Awards with her partner and fellow Cambridgeshire Police officer, PC Matthew Smith.
He said: “It’s really good to see her get something she really deserves.
“For the hard work she puts in, it’s nice to see that recognised.”
Eden said that the atmosphere around the reception and the awards was great to be part of. “We love being a police officer,” she said. “We love helping people, we love what we do.
“It’s pretty clear from how many people have been nominated that every person has just been doing their job.
“It’s nice that doing your job has brought such a great experience and something we can all enjoy.”