A NEWPORT policewoman who talked a man down from the roof of a multi-storey car park was among officers honoured by the Gwent force yesterday.

Sarah Taylor helped save the life of a potential suicide by proving 'it's good to talk'. Now she has a Divisional Commander's Commendation to show for her communication skills.

On January 31, PC Taylor, as she then was, took a call from a 31-year-old man who said he was going to kill himself.

He said he had razor blades with him, but would not say where he was. "I asked him to look around and describe anything he saw that might make him feel happy," said Sarah, now a detective constable.

"From what he described, I knew he must be on the Kingsway car park." DC Taylor stayed on the phone and kept the caller talking while some of her colleagues at Newport central police station went to the car park.

"I managed to get him to put the razor blades down so the officers could approach in safety," she recalled.

"I told him the police were there to help him. I don't think he was too impressed with that, but I kept talking to him till one of the officers came on the phone and said the man was OK.

"It was a relief to know he was safely off the roof. You don't realise how involved you get until it's over."

The man was later taken into custody for his own protection, police said. DC Taylor was presented with the commendation for "demonstrating excellent communication skills".

DC Taylor said afterwards: "In this job, we've got to be able to talk to people." The divisional commander, Chief Superintendent Kevin Price, and Newport division's chaplain, the Rev Jennifer Mole, presented the commendation certificates at Newport Central police station.

Among the other policemen and women to be honoured were eight uniformed officers who formed the support group for detectives investigating the murder of Graham 'Budgie' Mills.

Sergeants Jim Baker and Martin Hayter and constables Ian Wilkinson, Helen Harris, Anthony Davies, Paul Tadman, Chris Jayne and John Davey were praised for the long hours they spent in cold weather on house-to-house inquiries.

Detective Constable James Hill received his award for undertaking a painstaking review of case law that led to the successful prosecution of a blackmailer. The victim was a man with severe learning difficulties who could not give live evidence in court.

Five officers who rescued a six-week-old baby from a hysterical mother who threatened to kill the child received commendations. They were all constables; Roger Booth, John Spragg, Graham Spence, Jason Love and Karen Gifford.

Constables Sharon Hutchings and Sally Jackson were commended for giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage to a man who collapsed in the street. And PC Hutchings received a second award for preventing a man from entering a burning building by wrestling him to the ground.

"I'm proud of you all," said Divisional Commander Kevin Price. "These acts of bravery, initiative and good, old-fashioned common sense show what it really is to be a police officer."

He said this would be the last time the twice-yearly commendations were made in the old way. At the moment only colleagues and invited Press witness the certificates being presented.

In future, it will be a more high-profile ceremony.