Two security officers who helped save a man’s life after he was stabbed, have won a national award for their vigilance and quick thinking. Richard Farley and Paulo Ribeiro were doing a security shift at Kennet Shopping Centre in Newbury when they saw a man putting a cover for a knife in a bin.
They found a man with a serious knife wound in a nearby public toilet. They called for help, gave emergency first aid and stayed with the victim until the ambulance arrived.
Farley and Ribeiro were given the “Outstanding Act of the Year” award at an awards ceremony for workers at Westgrove Group, which provides cleaning and security staff for UK shopping centres and employs more than 1000 people. The awards mark good deeds from acts of bravery and saving lives to excellent service, in more than 70 UK shopping centres.
Other nominees for “outstanding act of the year”, included Westgrove staff who came to the rescue after a motorcyclist crashed and fell off his bike; security teams stopping pickpockets; and others on patrol who put their own safety at risk to step in and drag people to safety after a man was attacked. Others were nominated for their swift action, to deal with a violent man in a store and a woman wielding a large kitchen knife in a public place.
Claire McKinley Smith, pictured, Managing Director of The Westgrove Group, said: “Our people are what make us special. From saving lives and reuniting lost children to preventing shoplifters and cleaning up after storm damage, our annual Reward and Recognition Award Ceremony is all about highlighting some of the incredible things our people do.”
The awards ceremony included talks: on shopping centre security by Paul Keeling, owner of The Senate Group, which advises the UK government and companies on security and crisis management; and Alex Staniforth, Westgrove’s brand ambassador and endurance adventurer, who has raised more than £25,000 for The Young Minds Trust.
About Westgrove
The Westgrove Group is made up of two companies, Westgrove Support Services Ltd and Westgrove Cleaning Services Ltd; services are available individually, or as a dual service combining cleaning and security. It’s a member of ACS Pacesetters.
Visit www.westgrove.co.uk.
