2025 POLICE BRAVERY AWARDS


over a flat tyre on his vehicle, but he continued to try and reason with him and keep him away from the road and passers-by. The man then walked back towards his vehicle, pulled out an electric saw from the rear of the vehicle and activated it. The blade of the saw was over a foot in length, and the man swung the saw around towards PC Rowe before turning it on to himself in an attempt to harm himself. He knew he had to prevent the man from harming himself or other members of the public. He was acutely aware of a couple in their 70s who were walking a dog nearby. As he continued to shout and swing the electric saw around, PC Rowe noticed a decorating sheet in the back of the vehicle and used this to cover the man, distracting him enough so he could grapple the electric saw out of his hands and hold him in a bear hug grip.


PC Rowe continue to restrain the man until marked units arrived on scene. The man was detained and taken to a hospital to receive the most appropriate care.


DURHAM In the early hours of Sunday, 28 January 2024, officers responded to a dangerous and fast-evolving hostage situation. Firearms officers, including Officer A, were deployed to an


address following a distressing emergency call from Ambulance Control. The call handler could hear threats being made in the background, including threats to kill the victim and set fire to the property. Upon arrival, officers identified a male suspect inside the property with the victim. The suspect was armed with a large machete and continued to issue threats. Initial attempts to negotiate with the suspect were unsuccessful,


and the situation escalated further when he locked the front door and threatened to “blow the house up”. The suspect then withdrew into the living room, closing the curtains and preventing officers from monitoring the situation. Officer A and his colleagues swiftly adapted their tactical plan. An emergency forced entry was executed to prevent further harm to the victim. Upon entry, officers were met with violent resistance. The suspect hurled the machete at Officer A, striking his upper thigh and causing a serious injury. Despite his wound, the officer maintained his composure and professionalism, prioritising the safety of the victim. He continued to assist in subduing the suspect and securing the scene before addressing his own injuries with the support of his colleagues. The victim, an elderly woman with mobility issues, later recounted the terrifying ordeal. She was initially asleep when the suspect entered her bedroom brandishing a knife. Physically assaulted and prevented from leaving, she was eventually able to manoeuvre herself downstairs and unlock the door for the police.


DYFED POWYS PC Jonathan Tatam freed a man trapped in a car on fire, moments before it exploded. On 3 August 2024, PC Tatam responded to a report of a road traffic collision involving three vehicles: two cars and a tractor. The car in the middle was on fire, and an occupant was trapped. On arrival, PC Tatam quickly assessed the scene. Seeing the fire spreading to nearby bushes and through the car, he ran back


to the police vehicle to collect a fire extinguisher to dampen the flames and slow the fire’s spread. The trapped driver was trying to free himself, but his foot appeared to be stuck. While the male continued to struggle, PC Tatam dealt with the fire and looked for tools to help free the man, but found nothing that could assist. He returned to the vehicle to assist the man, who managed to free himself. PC Tatam then pulled the victim out and, with the help of a member of the public and a colleague, dragged him away from the vehicle. Moments after he was removed, the vehicle was fully alight and exploded before the Fire and Rescue Service arrived. PC Tatam continued to manage the scene, ensuring the safety of others and facilitating access for fire and ambulance services. The man suffered third-degree burns to his legs and lower


torso, requiring skin grafts, as well as a fractured femur and facial fractures from the collision. PC Tatam’s intervention was crucial in preventing more severe injuries, or worse.


ESSEX Two officers, officer A and B responded to a call and located a woman walking along a sandbank, heading out to sea. She was already 200-250 meters from the shore, and the tide had submerged the sandbank up to her thighs. It was approximately 11pm,


19 | POLICE | JUNE | 2025


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