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West Midlands Police Federation

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Student officers in line for bravery award

13 March 2019

Two student officers who confronted a group of men armed with knives are West Midlands Police Federation’s nominees for this year’s national Police Bravery Award.

PCs Lorna Walsh and Adam McWalter had volunteered to change their shifts and take part in a plain clothes operation tackling prostitution in June 2018 when, on Ninevah Road, they came across a group of 20 men - one of whom was holding a knife with an eight-inch blade to the stomach of another man.

They got out of their vehicle, identified themselves as police officers, shouted at the man to put down the knife and drew their batons and spray but the knife-wielding man started to run towards PC McWalter before being seen to discard the knife over a wall.

PC McWalter gave chase to try to apprehend him, when a second man pulled a large knife out of his waistband and holding it in the air, ran towards PC Walsh.

PC Walsh shouted at the man to put the knife down, but he ran off, following her colleague and shouting: “Police won’t get you brother.”

PC Walsh screamed to warn him of the new threat and PC McWalter activated his emergency button. Colleagues with Taser arrived on scene quickly and both men were red dotted and subsequently arrested.

In their nomination, Inspector Ahmed wrote: “Both officers have described the incident as the single most scariest moment of their police career and where they genuinely feared that they might not make it home that night to their families.”

The bravery awards, which will be held in London in July, honour some of the finest officers in England and Wales who have performed incredible acts of bravery, while on or off duty. The event is now in its 24th year.

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