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Police snow heroes emerge from the ice

Police staff and officers have gone above and beyond their duty as they’ve helped people across Greater Manchester keep safe during the snowy conditions.

PC Mark Smith was out on patrol on a freezing cold evening last week when he found an 86-year-old woman in the centre of Hyde. Margaret Smethurst had lost her bearings and got lost while out shopping after moving into a new sheltered housing complex.

The officer took Margaret home, settled her back into her new flat and prepared her something to eat. He contacted the home help scheme to make sure she received assistance and arranged for her boiler to be fixed.

Margaret Smethurst said: “I am extremely grateful to Mark for everything he did for me. He made sure I got home safely and then contacted my sheltered housing scheme to help repair my heating. Mark was very helpful and even came back the next day to check I was OK.”

PC Mark Smith said: “I dread to think what might have happened if I hadn’t come across Margaret, she was extremely cold and hungry when I found her. Just offering to nip to the shop for bread and milk or lending a hand to clear someone’s drive could turn out to be a real life saver, especially for older or more vulnerable members of the community.”

Other acts of kindness are being heard across the Force including two PCSOs who baked pies for pensioners and an officer from the Force Intelligence Branch who carried logs across snow bound fields for a couple’s wood burning stove in Salford.

Call handlers with 4x4 vehicles in Openshawe have been ferrying colleagues to and from work to make sure a high quality of service is maintained and an officer in Stockport used his 4x4 in his spare time to assist stranded motorists.

Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: “I have been really impressed with how officers and police staff have pulled together during these difficult weather conditions and gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep people across Greater Manchester safe.”

Anyone needing help from their local police should contact their Neighbourhood Policing Team by ringing 0161 872 5050 or visiting gmp.police/neighbourhoodpolicing.

People are advised to only call 999 in an emergency or when there is a threat to life or a crime in progress.