2025 POLICE BRAVERY AWARDS
Constable Luke Holden, PCSO Timothy Parry and Sergeant Gregory Gillespie from Merseyside police
discover there were children inside asleep, despite the building now being on fire. The children were removed from the property to a place of safety, and nearby residents were asked to evacuate. Thankfully, due to the swift actions of the officers, no one was hurt. It was unknown if the fire had been deliberately set, so despite the officers having entered the building, they continued their duties in preserving the scene until fire and rescue service colleagues attended.
MERSEYSIDE Sergeant Gregory Gillespie (right), Constable Luke Holden (below) and PCSO Timothy Parry (far right) confronted and detained Axel Rudakubana after he killed three children at a dance class in Southport. At midday they heard a radio
transmission requesting for officers to attend immediately at Hart Street, Southport. The incident was described over the radio as being one involving a male attacking children with a knife.
PS Gillespie arrived first at scene and described what he
was presented with as “chaos”. He saw numerous members of the public in the street, all appearing extremely panicked, with many
24 | POLICE | JUNE | 2025
having armed themselves with items to use as weapons. Upon exiting his vehicle, PS Gillespie saw a seriously injured child. He shared this information via his radio and directed a paramedic to assist the child before he continued to the premises where he believed the suspect was located. PS Gillespie requested further patrols to head to his exact location urgently. By this time, PC Holden and PCSO Parry had also arrived at the location. All three officers witnessed various members of the public running away, carrying young children. The door to the premises had a glass panel which had been smashed. PS Gillespie drew his baton and PC Holden drew his Taser before entering whilst PCSO Parry covered the exit. Once at the top of the stairs the officers were faced with Rudakubana, who was holding a large knife. PC Holden red dotted the suspect and both officers shouted at him to drop the knife, whilst they continued to approach him. PCSO Parry, upon hearing, immediately ran into the premises and upstairs to assist his colleagues.
Whilst doing so the officers passed another seriously injured young child. As they approached the suspect, the knife was dropped, but due to his actions it was necessary for the officers to strike Rudakubana with a baton and numerous kicks to get him under control on the floor.
Rudakubana was handcuffed and arrested for attempted murder. The officers then continued to instruct other present members of the public to assist with first aid before continuing to search the premises for injured persons or other suspects.
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