A team of police officers who swiftly detained an intruder with a weapon in the hallway of a secondary school have been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards 2025.

In March 2023, at around 11am, Thames Valley Police officers were called to St. Joseph's Secondary School in Slough following reports from the headmaster of an intruder with a possible firearm.

The school was full of pupils and staff at the time, and the headmaster initiated a lockdown, moving all pupils to a safe location away from the suspect.

The suspect was agitated and threatening staff in a corridor, claiming he had a firearm and was "ready to die" and that "everyone else was going down too”.

Unarmed officers were initially deployed to the school. PS Andrew Grant coordinated the response, and two double-crewed units attended the scene and liaised with the headmaster.

PCs Heather Bainbridge, Matthew Aldridge, Mike Allington, Abbie Chambers, Prathaban Puvindran, and Patrick Rumbol were briefed by PS Grant to engage, contain, and secure the suspect. PC Patrick Rumbol was the nominated Taser lead.

Upon seeing the suspect with his Taser drawn, PC Rumbol challenged him to take his hands out of his pockets. The suspect refused, and PC Rumbol decided not to use the Taser as it would have been ineffective due to the suspect's proximity and his puffer jacket.

Unaware that the suspect did not have a firearm but had a large kitchen knife hidden in his waistband, all seven officers grabbed him, took him to the floor, secured, and detained him. The suspect actively resisted during the struggle, and the knife fell out of his waistband.

The suspect was arrested and charged with offences. He was remanded to prison but deemed unfit to plead or stand trial due to his mental state. He received a hospital order and was detained indefinitely in a psychiatric hospital.

The officers' swift actions ensured the safety of everyone involved in this dangerous situation.

Thames Valley Police Federation Chair, Aileen O’Connor said, “Everyday our officers put their lives on the line for the public they serve across Thames Valley, I cannot imagine what went through the minds of these unarmed officers when they were deployed to a report of a suspect at a school with a firearm.

“When you hear the information that there is a suspect in a school with a firearm and also is “ready to die” you think of the Dunblane Massacre or all of the horrendous tragic school mass shooting in America. Yet our officers faced this head on, with no thought of their own safety and just the thoughts of preventing young innocent lives being lost.

“I am in no doubt that the brave and heroic actions each of those officers took that day saved the lives of many, they are all a true credit to Thames Valley Police and I am extremely proud of them all.”

Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: "I am incredibly proud of PS Grant, PC Bainbridge, PC Allington, PC Chambers, PC Puvindran, PC Rumbol, and PC Aldridge for their swift and decisive actions during the incident in March 2023. Faced with an armed intruder in a busy school environment, their fearlessness, teamwork, and quick thinking contained a potentially catastrophic situation.

“Their exemplary conduct is a testament to the values and dedication we uphold at Thames Valley Police. They are truly a credit to our force and it is great to see their actions recognised on a national level”.