Police Bravery Awards 2009 - Region 6: Wiltshire officers scoop regional bravery award
16 July 2009
Police Bravery Awards 2009: Wiltshire officers scoop regional bravery award
Three officers from Wiltshire have tonight received the South West regional award at the 14th annual Police Bravery Awards in London, organised by the Police Federation of England and Wales and The Sun Newspaper.
PC Neil Sampson, PC Michael Mansell and PC Ciarian Magee received the award at a glittering award ceremony at The Dorchester Hotel which followed a reception at 10 Downing Street where they and 57 other nominees, met the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.
The three officers were called to a block of flats, where a man, heavily under the influence of drugs, was wielding a knife.
After arriving at the scene the man was identified and challenged. The man lunged at PC Sampson and his dog, Anya, causing several lacerations and stabbing Anya in the chest. PC Sampson fell to the ground. The other two officers, seeing the attack, ran forward deploying their Taser’s, which at first did very little.
The man then stabbed PC Mansell three times in the chest area though fortunately body armour was worn. The man then stabbed PC Sampson again, twice in the leg.
At this point PC Mansell redeployed his Taser and PC Magee used his baton as Anya the dog continued to keep up the pressure to bring the man down. Eventually the knife was dropped and the man was restrained with handcuffs.
Paul McKeever, Chairman, Police Federation of England and Wales said;
“The officers and Anya displayed immense courage and skill in the face of life threatening danger. Their actions are an example to us all and I hope this award goes some way in recognising that.”
Editor of The Sun Newspaper Rebekah Wade said:
“The Sun is tremendously proud of our association with the Police Bravery Awards and it is an honour for us to be sponsor this event for the 14th year. All the officers recognised at this evening’s ceremony have displayed exceptional bravery and the incredible devotion to duty shown by these officers makes them very worthy winners. With little concern for their own safety they demonstrated the commitment of so many of Britain’s police officers today.”
NOTE TO EDITORS
For further details please contact Cath Hollands, Chairman, Wiltshire Police Federation on 07779 332241. No approach should be made before 10 pm.
Photographs of the nominees with the Prime Minister and as they receive their award will be available at 9.00 am on Friday 17th July from The Sun picture desk. Please call Robert Waker on 020 7782 4199.
For video footage contact Tim Duffy on 07970 590861 or timduffy4@gmail.com.
For further information about the event contact: Rachel Barnet or Melanie Davies at the Police Federation on 0137 235 2071 or Lorna Carmichael at The Sun Newspaper on 07836 340423.
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