Police officers and civilians whose selfless actions helped save lives and defuse explosive situations were honoured at a special ceremony in York. MATTHEW WOODCOCK and DAN JONES tell some of the stories.

AN INGENIOUS covert police operation used invisible grease to catch thieves "UV-handed" at a York night club.

PC Ben Whiteway was awarded a commendation for his role in Operation Concept, which triggered seven arrests at The Gallery, in Clifford Street.

In December 2004, he discovered there had been more than 90 thefts of bags, mobile phones and other personal belongings from city night clubs that year.

So the former soldier drew on creative covert observation methods he used in Northern Ireland with the Army in an attempt to snare offenders.

Tactics included using a dummy handbag containing a wallet and dummy mobile phone, left on a table in The Gallery, watched by four plain clothes officers and a covert camera. The thief pounced and was followed by the team and arrested.

Thirsk-based PC Whiteway ensured offenders could not escape by handing the property on or hiding it before any search - as he covered the goods in UV grease, invisible to the human eye.

Normally used to identify fake cash, the substance transfers to the offender's hands so anyone who has handled it can be easily identified with glowing yellow fingers under a UV lamp.

PC Whiteway, a York policeman for nearly five years after 14 years in the Army, said: "It worked a treat. The grease has got its own DNA, so you need a very good explanation why it's on you."

Urging clubbers not to leave valuables unattended on tables or bars with hundreds of people milling around, he said: "We stopped a frightening amount of crime just by being in the club."

He thanked staff at The Gallery for their help with the pioneering operation, and revealed that the hi-tech crackdown will continue in clubs across the city.

Fittingly, PC Whiteway - accompanied by his wife, Vicky, a human resources worker at police headquarters - received the award on his 36th birthday.

Chief Superintendent Tim Madgwick said police had run the operation on three occasions, and made seven arrests. "All had little option but to admit the offences due to the grease transfer from the property," he told yesterday's Guildhall ceremony.

"PC Whiteway has planned this operation really well - all eventualities have been covered. I feel that his work shows a high level of initiative and creative thinking to tackle this problem. We have had good results each occasion the operation has run."

York's police commander, Chief Supt Madgwick, said PC Whiteway would be a "major loss" to the North Yorkshire force when he joins the South Australia Police in Adelaide later this month.

Speaking after the event at the Guildhall, Central Area's police commander, Chief Superintendent Tim Madgwick, said: "This is a celebration of a lot of talented people who have done extraordinary things on behalf of the central area. "People should be grateful that the police are prepared to do more than just enough - they go well beyond that. I'm proud to be their leader."

The Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Janet Looker, presented the commendations.

Brave security guard disarmed knife man

AN HEROIC security guard who disarmed a knife-wielding robber was today praised for helping save the lives of two York police officers.

The city's police commander hailed quick-thinking Frank Haffey, who averted a potential tragedy in a busy city centre fast-food outlet.

Chief Superintendent Tim Madgwick said Mr Haffey stepped in to help Sergeant Martin Metcalfe and PC Sarah Inglis by pinning a knifeman to the ground.

Police were attempting to make an arrest in Burger King, when the offender pulled a blade and Mr Haffey, 40, put his life on the line to help end the incident

Australian-born Mr Haffey - who received a special police commendation for his spur-of-the-moment actions - said: "The adrenaline just took over and I knew I had to disarm him."

The Borders security guard was walking through the city centre last September when the two patrolling officers saw the offender in Burger King. They attempted to make an arrest, but the offender pulled a blade on them before Mr Haffey stepped in to help pin the knifeman to the ground.

Chief Supt Madgwick, who said Mr Haffey had helped police calm violent situations before, said: "Frank helped save two officers' lives. The man was clearly intent on getting away."

Mr Haffey was among brave civilians and officers honoured at a special police ceremony in York yesterday. Some of their stories were featured in yesterday's Evening Press.

Quick-thinking women receive commendations

QUICK-THINKING motorist Jill Hill, who prevented a serious road smash when a driver slipped into a diabetic coma on the A64 in York received a commendation.

The mum-of-three - on the way to pick up one of her children from nursery - spotted a car swerving dangerously at 70mph and acted as a "rolling roadblock" alongside two Nestl lorries.

"He was swerving along both lanes of the carriageway from Copmanthorpe to just before the Hopgrove roundabout, said Mrs Hill, who celebrated her 40th birthday on the day of the incident.

Fearing the worst, the Fulford resident straddled the white line behind the out-of-control car and put the hazard lights on in her Vauxhall Cavalier to warn other drivers to steer clear. Luckily, the two alert lorry drivers helped guide the danger vehicle on to a grass verge. The driver has subsequently made a full recovery.

Amazingly, Mrs Hill's lorry-driving husband was passing the scene last March - and was stunned to find his wife involved in a major incident. "It was certainly a birthday to remember," said Mrs Hill.

Another commendation went to sales assistant Shona Thompson, who stopped a woman from jumping off a railway bridge. The woman was perched precariously on a ledge above the Ouse, and passer-by Miss Thompson, 24, kept her chatting for 45 minutes while discreetly phoning police after telling the woman she was calling her partner.

When the Retreat patient was finally talked away from the edge she gave Miss Thompson a "big hug" of thanks.

Updated: 10:22 Tuesday, March 08, 2005