A lone worker was among people presented with an ‘Outstanding Citizens’ award from the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, for saving the life of a knife-attack victim after an out of hours call out.
WM Housing Group manages more than 30,000 homes across the West Midlands, and employs close to 1,000 members of staff. Mark Watts, a 25-year-old carpenter employed by WM Housing Group, is among nearly 500 people using the SoloProtect product, Identicom – an ID badge communications device to support a worker in distress, or on the receiving end of verbal abuse, aggression or incapacitation.
After seeing a bloodied, and vulnerable man at the side of the road, Mark stopped his van and went to assist. Mark, pictured, recalled: “I immediately activated my SoloProtect ID badge.” He provided first aid, while also having to calm a gang of people involved in the incident at risk to his own personal safety, and managed to get the victim to his vehicle.
Throughout, audio evidence from the open Red Alert on his device was being monitored by SoloProtect, and recorded, and the situation was assessed and escalated, to the local police force – who arrived and took control of the situation.
Mark, who was surprised to get the nomination (’it’s really nice to be recognised’, he said), received his award at the Outstanding Citizens ceremony on July 13, 2016.
West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson said: “Mark’s actions were incredibly brave – there’s not many people who would stop and do that. His fearless and quick-thinking actions not only saved the victim’s life but also resulted in an arrest. He is a true community hero.”
Matt Posaner, Director of People at WM Housing Group said: “Our investment in SoloProtect was definitely well worth it. The speedy response of SoloProtect in alerting the local police ensured the safety of Mark and the victim he so bravely stopped to assist.”
And Craig Swallow, Managing Director at SoloProtect UK said: “We’re delighted Mark was able to stay calm, and use his SoloProtect device to support his safety exactly as it was intended, once he’d made such a heroic decision to intervene. We’d like to congratulate him on his award, it’s much deserved.”
For more winners of the awards visit http://www.westmidlands-pcc.gov.uk/news/news-2016/winners-revealed-in-outstanding-citizens-awards-2016/.
About the firm
SoloProtect formally opened a new, purpose built, Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC), at its UK Head Office, Suzy Lamplugh House, in 2015. The SoloProtect ARC exclusively supports lone worker alarms, is accredited to the European standard for ARCs, EN50518, and now supports all SoloProtect lone worker customer accounts.
