Frank Mason Memorial Award 2026

A “dedicated, professional and selfless” police officer from Dacorum has received this year’s prestigious Frank Mason Memorial Award.

Police Constable Charlie Fuller, from the Neighbourhood Policing Team, was presented with the accolade during a ceremony in Hemel Hempstead on Friday (10 April). 

The award is given annually in honour of an off-duty police officer who was fatally wounded in the town nearly four decades ago.

PC Francis Mason, better known as Frank, was walking his dog on 14 April 1988 when he witnessed a security van being held up by armed robbers in Bank Court. 

He displayed enormous courage and tackled the gunmen, but was shot and, despite efforts to save him, he sadly died aged just 27 years old. As a result of his intervention the security guard was able to get to safety.

To recognise his bravery, PC Mason was posthumously awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal.

Each year, the memorial award is presented to a Dacorum-based officer who has displayed PC Mason’s qualities of dedication, professionalism and selflessness in protecting the community. The recipients are nominated and voted for by their supervisors and selected by senior officers in the borough.

You can read more on the Herts police website - Frank Mason Memorial Award 2026 | Hertfordshire Constabulary