A Federation member has shared her pride after receiving a national Police Bravery Award nomination just one year into her Force career.
Student officer PC Eden McClymont has been recognised after she single-handedly detained a violent shoplifter for almost half an hour, despite being repeatedly assaulted having attempted to arrest him.
Eden’s heroics took place at the Co-op on Mayors Walk in Peterborough last October, where she was called to assist with taking a statement from staff regarding a separate stealing offence.
As she spoke with workers about the initial incident in the staffroom, she noticed someone else putting items into their pockets on CCTV.
The trainee officer then went out onto the shop floor and approached this man to conduct a stop and search, which he was fully compliant with.
It was only during the next step that matters became more difficult for Eden, when the shoplifter provided her with false personal details as she tried to find a solution to the crime committed.
“When the details didn’t come up on any of the three systems I entered them into, I thought, ‘here we go’ – it obviously wasn’t going to be as straightforward as I thought,” Eden said.
“I was planning to resolve things by conducting a voluntary interview or a community resolution, but he left me with no choice but to arrest him.
“So, I asked me to come out to the back [of the shop] with me, and that’s when I saw him sizing me up. I knew he was going to make a run for it.
“I went to stop him, and the first punch to my head came straight away. What then ensued was a grapple on the floor that seemed to go on forever.”
Further hitting followed soon after the offender’s opening act of violence towards Eden, with the constable recalling taking at least 10 blows to the face and head – injuring her left eye.
Damage was also inflicted through deep scratches on the top of her forehead which drew a small amount of blood.
Eden also had to contend with a tirade of verbal aggression during this exchange, including plenty of offensive insults which came her way, but none of the man’s attempts to overpower her proved successful as she maintained her hold on him.
“The reason this all went on for so long was because I had called for back-up, but the emergency button on my radio didn’t activate properly – not to my knowledge at the time,” she explained.
“I was expecting a bunch of other cops to fly through the door, but what I got was zero. After a while, I realised no one was coming, and that it would remain down to me to keep him physically restrained.
“But I still needed help from somewhere, so one of the shop staff called 999 and explained what was going on. At this point, it had been back and forth between the two of us for a good while.”
Resisting as much as ever, the offender had tried to remove and disable as much of Eden’s equipment as possible, eventually grabbing her radio and throwing it out of reach.
One item still on Eden’s person, however, was her PAVA spray – which ended up proving decisive in completing the arrest, subduing the man so he could be handcuffed and taken into custody. From here, he received eight weeks’ prison time for shoplifting and assault on an emergency service worker.
Quizzed on where she found an extra gear – having already physically exerted herself so much – to finish the job and bring the man to justice, Eden said: “To be honest, I’m almost disappointed in myself for not getting the better of him sooner, so there was no way I was ever going to give in until he was fully under arrest.
“I knew what needed to be done, and even if that was on my own, then so be it.
“Maybe I’m still a little hard on myself about the incident itself, but I can definitely give myself a pat on the back for my nomination,” she laughed.
“It’s something I feel very good about, especially as it has come in my first year in the job.
“You don’t even realise the Bravery Awards happen when you first start in the police, but I think it’s a brilliant concept, so it will be an absolute privilege to be a part of.”
Eden is set to attend this year’s ceremony, which will be held this summer, partner and fellow Cambridgeshire Constabulary officer PC Matthew Smith.
Branch chair Liz Groom said: “We are unbelievably proud of Eden and the fact she will be able to attend such a prestigious event so early into her career – I’m sure it will be on occasion which stays with her forever.
“As a student officer, she has absolutely earned her spot at the Bravery Awards after showing tremendous courage and determination to apprehend a dangerous offender without any physical help.
“This set a great example of how committed police officers are to protecting the public of Cambridgeshire, especially when the offender in question had a track record of disrupting the community.
“On behalf of the Federation, I’d like to wish Eden congratulations on her nomination and the best of luck for the awards ceremony itself.”