Award-winning Ellesmere Port police officer welcomed to Parliament

An Ellesmere Port-based police officer, who won a Cheshire bravery award, was hosted in Parliament ahead of a national awards ceremony.

PC Phil Burgess, overall winner of the Police Federation’s Cheshire Police Bravery Awards 2026, was welcomed to Westminster by Ellesmere Port and Bromborough MP Justin Madders.

PC Burgess and his partner, Stephanie, were in London after he was invited to attend the Federation’s National Police Bravery Awards at the Royal Lancaster Hotel the following day. Phil was among the officers recognised after being nominated for the national awards, while three officers from the Metropolitan Police were announced as the overall winners.

Mr Madders said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome Phil, his family and colleagues to Parliament, where they were given a tour and we had a good chat.

“Phil’s courage and professionalism are a credit to Cheshire Police and our local community. It was an honour to meet him and recognise the outstanding service he has given.”

PC Burgess, a response officer based at Ellesmere Port Police Station, received the Cheshire award after risking his own safety to save the life of a man experiencing a mental health crisis who was on foot in the live carriageway of the M53. Despite the danger posed by fast-moving traffic, he restrained the man and prevented him from stepping into the path of oncoming vehicles.

Two members of the public also stopped to help, assisting PC Burgess in bringing the incident to a safe conclusion.

Senior officers praised PC Burgess's actions as nothing short of heroic, saying his response prevented a likely fatality and embodied the highest standards of policing.

Cheshire Police Federation chair Jamie Thompson said:

“This was bravery of the highest order.

“Phil’s decisive and selfless actions that day demonstrated exceptional personal courage and prevented a likely fatality of the man in question, and who knows what other carnage could have been caused on such a busy motorway.

“We are all very proud of his brave actions.”

Pictured - Justin Madders MP with PC Phil Burgess and his partner Stephanie, on the terrace overlooking the River Thames outside the Houses of Parliament.