2024 POLICE BRAVERY AWARDS
GWENT AND SOUTH WALES A team of selfless officers from two forces risked their own lives, entering a blazing building multiple times to rescue residents and help a victim of a knife attack. Officers were dispatched to an emergency call following reports
that a 32-year-old man had stabbed his father with a knife. Following their arrival at the scene, officers from the joint firearms unit and response provided first aid to the victim while a PC, who wishes to remain anonymous, and PC Luke Francis attended the address of the suspect following reports he had left the scene of the assault. While close to the property, they noticed smoke coming from
an upstairs window and a light within the flat was then switched off. They took the decision to conduct an emergency search of the flat in a bid to preserve the life of anyone within the property which was now ablaze as a mattress had been set alight. Fighting against the rising temperatures, roaring flames and billowing smoke, the officers – joined by a police sergeant who wishes to remain anonymous – attempted to bring the fire under control but due to the dangerousness of the blaze withdrew from the flat by using fire extinguishers.
They were inside the flat for around eight minutes initially searching for anyone within the address often on their hands and knees due to the dense smoke and while keeping a firearm pointed in the direction of any possible armed subjects. The flat was connected to three other adjoining properties, so a second emergency search of these addresses was conducted to ensure the safety of those in the vicinity of the fire. PC Ashley Joseph and PS Geraint Hopkins carried out the search and they were able to help evacuate two people and a dog from an adjacent property. Shortly after the evacuation, the officers developed a compromise tactical plan which resulted in all five officers re- entering the property with partial respirators, supplied by the fire service, to conduct a third search.
HAMPSHIRE
Scott Thomson (bottom right) soon arriving on scene. PC Davies went around the back of the property in case the suspect fled in that direction. Gaining entry into the hallway, they were faced by the suspect holding a handgun to his head and a handheld battery pack and detonator, with wires leading to two ‘man bags’ across his body. They knew they had to use their communications skills to talk
the man down and seek his cooperation to deescalate the perilous situation, however, calls to get him to drop the weapon failed. The subject raised his hand and detonated the device whilst pointing the gun at the officers. Sparks and toxic smoke instantly filled the air. Thankfully, the Taser deployed by PCs Clarkson and Thomson was effective and he was incapacitated on the floor, before being taken out of the property.
Acting courageously and without a thought for their own
safety, the officers risked their lives in trying to disarm the individual of both the firearm and the lethal, smoking device, but whilst doing so in the struggle he reached for the second bag around his body. Fearing an explosion from a second device, they quickly gained control of him, trying to overcome the suspect’s strength. The smoking device was taken from him and kicked away by PC Thomson, before PC Clarkson moved it away onto a grass verge in a more remote location and cordoned off the area. PC Davies then promptly used a fire extinguisher to cool it down. This incident was so serious, explosive ordnance disposal
attended the scene confirming the self-made improvised, viable explosive device contained a bottle full of broken glass and metal ball bearings which could act as shrapnel. Thankfully the bomb hadn’t detonated properly, but they
confirmed there would have been serious injuries, if not fatalities if the use of Taser had not hindered his attempts to detonate the device.
HUMBERSIDE PC Richard Broad, who was still within his initial learning period, faced danger head on, singlehandedly detaining a suspect armed with a gun. He was on duty with his
tutor on a routine patrol of Bridlington seafront when their attention was drawn by CCTV operators to two individuals suspected of dealing drugs.
Once they tracked down the individuals with the purpose of conducting a stop and search, one of the suspects immediately fled on foot and was pursued by PC Broad’s tutor constable. He was now alone with the second suspect, but due to him not being signed off for independent patrol this was an apprehensive moment for him.
A team of heroic officers risked their lives to detain a man carrying an explosive device.
PCs Emma Davies (middle) and Tim Clarkson (top left)
attended an address, looking to detain a wanted male. They found the man, but he would not let them into the building and would not engage, so back up was called with PS David Gibbs (top right), PC Nathan Fulton (bottom left) and PC
22 | POLICE | JUNE | 2024
The suspect initially appeared compliant with PC Broad’s instructions, but in the blink of an eye turned violent and shoved him, trying to knock him off his feet and gain an advantage as he turned and ran.
PC Broad gave chase, following the suspect as he turned a corner into a grassed area, at which point the suspect turned, reached into his trousers, and pulled out a handgun. Without pause and showing tremendous courage, he shouted at the
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