NEWS


2021 BRAVERY AWARDS


KENT PC David Gillham, PC Jodee Tubby and an officer we cannot name responded to a call from a member of the public threatening to end his life. The three officers began conducting an area search, believing his location to be a cliff edge above a disused quarry. They found him hanging from the side of the cliff, 50 feet above the ground and losing his grip. The officers linked all three of their belts together and threw the loop with one officer leaning over the cliff while the two colleagues grabbed the legs of their colleague. It was clear other equipment was needed, so PC Tubby summonsed help from a homeowner with a rope. They sought to pull the male off the side of the cliff to safety.


female huddled in a corner, covered in petrol. The fumes were overwhelming. PC Jones’ attention was drawn to her hand as she moved it, and he noticed a lighter in it. He jumped on her to secure the lighter and prevent ignition. He was assisted by PC Kingston, who kicked the petrol can away and forced the lighter from the female’s hand.


MET 1 Inspector Tobias Walton and A/PS Owen Schutt were on patrol in Harrow, when they noticed a large building fire in a residential house. Requesting more units and support from the London Fire Brigade, the officers headed towards the building. The officers noticed a neighbouring house that was close to catching alight with people still inside. They forced entry to the house and successfully rescued the unaware residents. Numerous other units and emergency services arrived on the scene to assist moments later. Inspector Walton and A/PS Schutt continued to manage the scene, despite suffering the effects of smoke inhalation.


MET 2 PC Phil McAllister PC Jamie Milburn and PC Chris Bryce


LANCASHIRE PC Jamie Milburn and PC Chris Bryce attended the River Ribble in Preston to reports of a male in the water. As Storm Ciara raged, the weather conditions worsened. PCs Milburn and Bryce found the man in the water along with two others, who were pleading for help and trying to keep the first male afloat. Without a thought for their own safety, both officers entered the icy water to save the man. Their task was not made easy by the man who, still seemingly intent on self-harm, fought and resisted the officers’ attempts to save him. The officers persevered and were eventually able to get the male back to safety and out of the water. The two other males also managed to get themselves out of the water and up the embankment.


LEICESTERSHIRE PC Stephanie Kingston and PC Owain Jones attended a domestic incident. Upon arrival, the officers went to speak to each party separately. It was at this stage that PC Kingston discovered that the female was inside the garage. PC Kingston attempted to engage but the female shouted that she had covered herself in petrol and would set herself alight but, after conversation, gave permission for them to enter the garage. As they entered, the officers found the


32 I POLICE I OCTOBER 2021


LINCOLNSHIRE PC Phil McAllister rescued a man who had lost control of his vehicle in slippery, below zero conditions and ended up upside down in a 12-foot deep, water- filled dyke. The man had managed to call 999, despite being trapped in his vehicle, bleeding and in a lot of pain. PC McAllister, who was single crewed, made his way to the location and rushed to help. In the pitch black and not knowing how deep the water was, PC McAllister entered the dyke before managing to smash a window and enter the vehicle. He supported the man’s head above the water line until he was able to free him and get him out of the car. The man was then given first aid by colleagues from East Midlands Ambulance Service which had arrived on the scene.


MERSEYSIDE PC Mark Field and an officer who cannot be named were on patrol when they responded to a call relating to a suicidal male. As they arrived on scene, the officers were confronted in the street by a man who held a firearm in his hand and was pointing it directly at the officers through the windscreen of their patrol car. Without hesitation and putting their safety at risk, the officers approached the suspect. They drew Taser and reverted to their training which enabled them to quickly and efficiently force the male to the ground and disarm him. The individual was arrested for possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, subsequently charged, and placed before the courts.


Marine officers PC Justin Withers, PC Phil Clark and PC Mark Gunning were on a patrol along the River Thames, when they received a call that a male had entered the water. The man had taken MDMA and was acting erratically, repeatedly throwing himself under the surface of the water to drown himself. He refused any help. PC Gunning manoeuvred the boat as close to the male as possible. PCs Withers and Clark were unable to grab hold of the man as he was not wearing any clothes. PC Withers made the decision to enter the water. PC Clark could see that his colleague was in difficulty and was becoming exhausted trying to keep the man above the water level and so took the decision to enter the water. The officers were joined by the Tower Lifeboat crew, who helped them to drag the male onto the bow of the lifeboat.


MET 3 PC Natalie Markham attended an incident at a hostel where a resident was threatening to stab staff and other residents. The suspect had locked the door from the inside. A man then came to the door, telling PC Markham that the staff were waiting in the office. He then walked out of the building as PC Markham entered, unaware that he was the suspect in question. The officer ran back outside where the man became agitated and shouted threats to PC Markham. He pulled out a knife in each hand and hit PC Markham’s body armour several times. The officer stepped back and drew her Taser before discharging. The man was able to remove the barbs and get up from the floor, before turning and running away while still in possession of one of the knives. PC Markham pursued the suspect for almost a mile while guiding units to their location. The suspect was stopped and was arrested for the attempted murder of PC Markham.


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