Nominations revealed for police bravery awards

Nominations revealed for police bravery awards

Two police officers who tackled a machete-wielding terrorist before hugging him to stop him setting off a suicide vest have been nominated for a bravery award.

PC Jason Hodgson and PC Alex Field are among five officers recognised for the arrest of a terror suspect near Arsenal's Emirates Stadium back in January.

Other nominations include the two officers who arrested Thomas Mair, the radicalised killer of MP Jo Cox, and an off-duty cop who intervened to stop a beating while on holiday in Israel.

PC Alex Field (left) and PC Jason Hodgson (right) arrested a would-be terrorist wielding a machete outside the Emirates Stadium in January 

The men wrestled the terrorist to the floor near the stadium where they needed to use two sets of handcuffs to restrain him before hugging him to prevent him from detonating a suicide vest

The officers are all competing in the 2017 Police Federation of England and Wales Police Bravery Awards.

PC Hodgson and PC Field were first on the scene in north London on January 3 after police received reports of a man waving a machete close to Arsenal's ground at around 11am.

The pair managed to bring the man down despite him violently resisting and requiring two sets of handcuffs to subdue.

It was at that point they noticed electrical wires sticking out of his jacket, and with no thought to their own safety hugged the man to prevent what they thought was a suicide vest from detonating.

PC Wayne Pullen drew on his military past to help deconstruct the suicide vest, which proved to be a sophisticated fake

Next on the scene was PC Wayne Pullen who drew on his military past to deconstruct the wires and electrical boards inside the man's jacket - revealing the vest to actually be a convincing fake.

Two other officers, named only as PC Homer and PC Woolmer, are also nominated over the same arrest.

Chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, Ken Marsh, said: 'The heroic actions of these officers resulted in the safe detention and arrest of the suspect, who presented every visual indication of a terrorist threat. 

'Their selfless and courageous actions represent the very best of the police service and they are deserving of this nomination.'

PC Craig Nicholls and PC Jona than Wright are also nominated for the arrest of Thomas Mair, who has since been sentenced to life in jail over the murder of Jo Cox.

The pair were the first to respond to reports that the MP for Batley & Spen had been stabbed and shot outside Birstall Library in June last year.

Despite being unarmed, they spotted Mair close to the scene and gave chase, rugby tackling him to the ground as he reached toward his waistband.

After the arrest, Mair was found to be armed with a knife and a loaded gun that he was likely reaching for before he was tackled.

Both men have already received a Queen's Gallantry Medal for 'exemplary acts of bravery', and are now nominated for this award.

Sergeant Richard Burgess, of Essex police, is also nominated for helping to stop the beating of a Jewish man - despite being on holiday in Israel at the time.

PCs Craig Nicholls and Jonathan Wright are also nominated for arresting Thomas Mair, the killer of MP Jo Cox who was armed with a gun and a knife

Mr Nicholls and Mr Wright found Mair close to Birstall Library where Ms Cox (pictured) was shot and stabbed before tackling him as he reached for his gun

Mr Burgess was on a guided tour at the site of Oskar Schindler’s grave when a group approached their tour bus and mentioned that an attack was happening nearby.

A local woman approached Sergeant Burgess, pointing down the street saying “please help them, please help them”.

Mr Burgess noticed two children crying at the entrance to an alleyway. As he looked down it, he saw a Jewish man being dragged and hit by three young Arab men. 

Without a second thought, Mr Burgess ran down the alleyway, where he saw the man’s eyes streaming as if having received some form of noxious substance. 

One of the Arab men had a leather belt w rapped around his fist, with the large silver buckle forming a makeshift knuckleduster.

Sergeant Richard Burgess is nominated for stopping the beating of a Jewish man despite being on holiday in Israel at the time

He ran at the group, clotheslining one of the men and holding him in a headlock under his right arm - despite a recent injury which meant his right hand was not fully functional. 

With his left hand, he pulled at the Jewish man, freeing him and yelling at him to run. 

Two other members of the tour, who happened to be off-duty Met Police officers, arrived to help the man to safety.

The offenders then turned their attention to Sergeant Burgess. The man with the belt began hitting him, before a third man then appeared at the gateway to the compound, wielding a claw hammer. 

He hit Sergeant Burgess over the head, stunning him, and he slumped against the wall.< /p>

As he sat staring up, he saw the man raise the claw hammer above his head. Realising this may be a fatal blow, Sergeant Burgess gathered his remaining strength and raised his arms wide and open as he tried to stand. 

It was enough to make the offender pause, and two of the men began yelling at him to get away.

Back on the coach, he applied ice to the large bruise that had appeared, and tried to get on with his holiday. 

Israeli Police informed him the following day that the suspects had been arrested. Two men were convicted of assault in the Israeli courts.

In total there are 71 officers nominated from 40 force areas for bravery. There will be eight regional winners and one chosen as overall winner at the event in July.

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