2024 POLICE BRAVERY AWARDS
intelligence stated that he could be armed, as such, after attempts to calm the individual were ignored and he became more and more agitated, Taser was deployed but to little effect. Further use of PAVA spray and Taser also had little effect on the individual. The subject rushed at PC Grey again, forcing her to the ground,
at which point PC Handley used several baton strikes to help free PC Grey, but the subject got back to his feet to attack again. PC Grey was aware of being stabbed in the hand, but at this point realised she felt blood running down her leg from a stab wound. It was clear the subject must be contained at this point as concerns for the family in the room were growing. The other officers now were arriving and entering the room from different doors. Grabbing a family member, the individual held a knife to her throat, but the officers entering the room provided enough of a distraction for her to break free. At this moment the subject rushed at the officers again, swinging his knife and trying to injure as many as possible. PAVA spray and more baton hits were deployed but again with little effect until PC Reddington and another officer managed to hold his arms causing him to fall to the ground. At this point the PC received a laceration to his arm. From the ground the subject continued to fight and spit at officers, still armed with a knife which he thrusted into PC Reddington just under his armpit. It is only down to pure fortune this missed his lung and other major organs.
A struggle continued with the subject pinned to the ground, he was disarmed and subdued, after wounding three of the officers in attendance.
CUMBRIA PC Ruth Coates and PC Mike Doyle courageously contained a violent individual who caused serious harm in a voilent outburst. They attended an incident at a temporary asylum hotel in a remote village after reports of a male causing damage and acting in a strange and unsettling manner. Arriving on scene, the male was
initially calm but when, on hearing about his actions from staff, they approached the individual to arrest and detain him. The man attempted to flee but PC Doyle managed to tackle him on the stairs with assistance from PC Coates. At this moment the man clamped his mouth down on PC Coates’ arm with such force that he penetrated multiple layers of clothing. PC Doyle eventually managed to prise the man’s jaw open with his fingers. Such was the strength of the man’s bite she has been left with a permanent scar. At this point the man then bit down on PC Doyle’s finger, again with intense strength, so much so that PC Doyle believed his finger was being bitten off. As PC Coates tried to remove the individual and free her colleague, the man attempted to grab her Taser. She deployed her Taser three times in her efforts to free her colleague. Once the man finally released PC Doyle’s finger, both officers had experienced severe bite wounds but had to restrain the individual for a further 21 minutes until back up arrived. They did not withdraw or allow the man to threaten or intimidate staff at the hotel, ensuring the man was unable to commit any more acts of violence.
18 | POLICE | JUNE | 2024 DERBYSHIRE
(Top row, left to right) Inspector Nick Booth, PC Matthew Copestake, PC Rebecca Callan, (bottom row, left to right) PC Adam Podam, PC Tammy Careless, PC Christopher Harrold, PC Ryan McGrath, and an officer who wishes to remain anonymous, exhibited unparalleled composure when faced with violent confrontation with hundreds of aggressive fans, armed with an array of weapons. On 30 November 2023, Derbyshire Police sent these officers
to join the East Midlands Police Support Unit (PSU) on mutual aid to assist with the Aston Villa v Legia Warsaw match. There was credible information Legia Warsaw fans would be looking for mass disorder and to attack police following on from similar behaviour in Holland at AZ Alkmaar two weeks before the event. Early in the evening, serious disorder erupted, and the PSU was deployed on the front shield line right in the middle of the violence to ensure Legia fans could not get to the Aston Villa fans. Officers were attacked by around 200 individuals with
a multitude of weapons and missiles including drainpipes, branches, glass bottles, marine flares, wheelie bins, cones, and other large items. The clear intention of the crowd was to cause serious injury to police officers during what amounted to a riot. The actions of the officers prevented the Legia Warsaw fans breaking through the police lines and helped to keep the 27,000 Aston Villa fans safe from violence. Had the officers failed to control this group, they would have
been free to escape the containment, attack rival fans or cause further serious damage and disruption to the community. A group of around 40 Legia Warsaw fans were arrested for violent disorder. PC Copestake received an injury to his hand which required
hospital treatment due to the level of violence directed at his shield but has since recovered.
DEVON AND CORNWALL PC Zach Printer, and an officer who wishes to remain anonymous, confronted an armed individual, drawing his attention away from potential further victims, acting selflessly under incredibly dangerous circumstances. On 12 August 2021, police and emergency services were called following reports of an active gunman in Plymouth. They were soon waved down by members of the public near
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