The Sheriff’s Award for a courageous act has gone this year Mark Peskett a Neighbourhood Enforcement Officer from Croydon.
The award, for the protection of people, property or liberty, came at the Worshipful Company of Security Professionals annual awards dinner at The Mansion House inn the City of London. It was awarded by Alderman and Sheriff Alan Yarrow and Sheriff Wendy Mead. Mark Peskett was accompanied by his wife Wendy
He was commended for his bravery in February 2010 when he was making a routine patrol in Northend, in the London Borough of Croydon. He became aware of a build up of male youths in the pedestrian area. They began using street furniture such as tables and chairs and any other objects they could find to assault each other. This was in daylight on a weekday and the street was full of families shopping. Innocent people caught up in the incident were terrified and were forced to run into the Whitgift and Centrale malls to escape the violence.
As the battle between rival gangs spread Mark, realising that he was on his own, knew that he had to intervene. Acting instinctively and without thought for his own safety he waded into the middle of the group of youths and physically started to remove the objects being used as weapons from the main protagonists. He used his calm demeanour and his physicality to keep them apart while ordering them to disperse which they eventually did. Furniture was broken and strewn the length of Northend. As Mark noted he was affected by damage he witnessed. In his words: “I was gutted to see the Busker’s violin broken, but I am glad to see no one was injured.” Whilst the incident did not present a positive image of Croydon in the national media, the intervention of a lone council worker was seen by many as something that should be commended. The whole incident was monitored by the CCTV control room, who called for police assistance and captured images for later court action. Mr Peskett said: “I feel extremely privileged to accept The Sheriffs’ Award for Security Professionals and honoured to become one of the select group of six winners to date. My only real thought was to calm things down as quickly as possible to make sure no one got hurt. In a situation like that you have to rely on instinct and training.”
In recognition of his heroic action and citizenship by walking into the middle of rival gangs; then keeping the situation calm until police arrived the Sheriffs selected him. The current Master of the Company of Security Professionals, Nigel Churton MBE, said: “This company is very proud to be the sponsors of this award and we received a large number of citations for consideration from the blue light services and members of the public, who had performed quite extraordinary acts of courage in difficult situations over the last year. Mark stood out to the judges as someone, who had gone way beyond his normal role and acted in an extremely courageous and brave manner to protect a large number of ordinary shoppers, old and young, in a very enclosed place, who were extremely frightened by the events taking place. Mark is an example to us all.” The Company will seek nominations for the 2012 awards from May.
