BRAVERY AWARDS


and, although bitten, courageously held him on the ground until Metropolitan Police officers arrived. During this period, he was abused by a hostile crowd, including individuals who tried to prevent him from holding the suspect. His compelling evidence saw the


attacker convicted of wounding with intent at The Old Bailey and jailed for 12 years and nine months in March 2020. The victim of the knife attack survived after emergency surgery. Recalling the attack, PC Evans said:


“When I saw the guy being stabbed, for me there wasn’t a choice to make - I had to stop him before he killed someone. I’m glad everything turned out well in the end. The doctors, nurses and hospital staff performed a miracle in saving that man’s life.” Sir David Thompson, the Chief


Constable of West Midlands Police, said: “Matt is a cracking officer. He is a big presence in Birmingham city centre and an outstanding nominee for this selfless act. He is one of our finest.”


Region 4 – Northamptonshire Police


loud crack and felt intense pain when he was shot in the face. The Taser had not been successful, and the son continued to fire shots into the officer’s face and arms.


PS Cayton described the offender


as violent and out of control but his overriding concern was for the elderly residents, so he selflessly continued to put himself between them and the armed man.


After using his incapacitant spray,


the son dropped his weapon and was restrained and handcuffed by PS Cayton, who had significant facial injuries and was bleeding heavily. PS Cayton was taken to hospital where


he underwent painful medical procedures to remove a number of ball bearings from his face and head, some of which were perilously close to causing life-changing injury.


Sam Dobbs, Chair of


Northamptonshire Police Federation, said: “Running into danger, placing yourself between the threatened and the threatener, protecting people from harm and protecting life are all themes quoted as being in the best traditions of policing. “PS Cayton embodied all these finest principles, as well as showing the utmost courage when he was first on the scene of a police officer’s worst nightmare - an armed man intent on causing harm.”


Region 5 – Thames Valley Police


gardens with friends when he witnessed from afar the horrific stabbings. Without a thought, he ran after the attacker. He said: “I was sitting on the grass,


facing towards where the victims were, and I don’t know what got my attention first, I think it was a scream. I looked up and there was the suspect - he was going around the group who were sitting on the floor, stabbing them. I shouted ‘Knife!’” The attacker ran off but PC Packham


kept his eyes on the suspect while he called the police, then ran after him, out of the park. He was still describing the man and his whereabouts in detail as he ran, despite having no protective equipment. His precise instructions allowed


nearby, unarmed uniformed response officers PC Steele, PC King, and PS Watkinson to reach the scene. They saw the man running towards them and, despite not knowing if he was still armed, they got out of their cars, chased him, rugby tackled him to the floor, restrained and arrested him. Craig O’Leary, Chair of Thames Valley


Police Federation, said: “The word ‘hero’ is often bandied about far too easily. But these fabulous four officers are just that; complete and utter heroes. This man was a terrorist. These officers were unarmed and stopped him in his tracks before he could cause anyone else any harm. “The actions of James – who let’s not


PS David Cayton of Northamptonshire Police presented with his award by National Police Chiefs’ Council Chair Martin Hewitt (right).


PS David Cayton was repeatedly shot


after standing in front of an armed man to protect vulnerable people. He placed himself between an elderly


couple and man armed with a knife and a gun, and despite being shot and injured, he continued to protect members of the public. PS Cayton attended a call after elderly


parents asked for help with their son, who was having a mental health crisis. The son made it clear from his responses that he wanted to harm the officer, and as the officer was on the stairs, the son pointed a handgun at him. Despite PS Cayton believing that this


was live firearm and that he was about to be shot, he continued to protect the vulnerable parents, with the firearm was pointed in his face. After he discharged Taser, he heard a


18 I POLICE I DECEMBER 2021


Federation Vice-Chair Ché Donald (left) and National Chair John Apter (right) with Thames Valley officer’s (left to right) PC James Packham, PC Liam King, PC Liam Steele and PS Iain Watkinson.


PC James Packman, Sergeant Iain


Watkinson, PC Liam Steele and PC Liam King chased, tackled and arrested a terrorist who murdered three people in a frenzied knife attack in Reading. They displayed quick thinking


and incredible courage when they apprehended the knife-wielding man after he stabbed six people in Forbury Gardens in June 2020. PC Packham, who had only been


an officer for two years, was off duty and enjoying a summer evening in the


PS Paul Linpower (left) and PC Lee Mather of Dorset Police with Shadow Home


Secretary Yvette Cooper who presented them with their award.


Sergeant Paul Linpower and PC Lee


Mather from Dorset Police stopped a dangerous knife-wielding man from burning a housing complex to the ground. On the morning of 18 April 2019, they were called to an address in Bournemouth to help care workers deal with a violent man suffering from mental


forget was off duty – Iain and the two Liams were exemplary and in the highest standards and traditions of the British police service. They acted selflessly and with immense bravery to protect the public from the possibility of further attacks.”


Region 6 – Dorset Police


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