North East Officers Honoured At Police Bravery Awards

14 July 2016, 05:37 | Updated: 14 July 2016, 06:07

Three North East police officers will be honoured at the Police Bravery Awards later.

The awards honour and recognise police officers who performed outstanding acts of bravery while on or off duty.

Stephen Mann, CEO of Police Mutual, said:
"This year marks the 21st anniversary of the Police Bravery Awards and the eighth consecutive year that Police Mutual has sponsored them. We are proud to continue our support for such an inspirational event in the Policing calendar and to be able to show our respect for the exceptional courage shown by Police Officers who risk their lives every day to protect the public."


CLEVELAND POLICE 
An officer who entered a burning home to rescue an elderly man have been nominated for a Police Bravery Award.

On Christmas Day 2014, PC Ryan was alerted to a house fire in Greatham. The only information he was given was that the elderly man who lived there may have tripped or fallen.

Arriving before the fire service, the officer confirmed, through a neighbour, that the man was locked inside the house.

He managed to force entry into the home and, despite it being filled with smoke, went in where he found the man and brought him out to safety.

The man and PC Ryan were given oxygen at the scene and treated for smoke inhalation.

Andrea Breeze, chairman of the Cleveland Police Federation, said:
"If it were not for the actions of PC Ryan, there is a high chance that this man would not have survived. This officer put the safety of another person ahead of his own, and that bravery and professionalism should be recognised.” 

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DURHAM POLICE

An off-duty officer who stopped three men during an attempted armed robbery has been nominated for a Police Bravery Award.

In September 2015, PC Canvin (pictured) was at the local newsagents in Commercial Street, Willington when two masked men entered the shop.

One was armed with a three-foot metal bar, and threatened store staff, making repeated demands for cigarettes and money.

Despite obvious danger to him, and without any protective gear, PC Canvin acted without hesitation to intervene and stop the offender and protect those around him.

PC Canvin was able to detain the man with the metal bar and spent the next 10 minutes struggling as the man tried to fight him off.

At one point, a third offender entered the shop, and the detained man was heard to shout at the other assailants that they should stab the officer with a kitchen knife.

The offender was able to be held until uniformed officers arrived, and the other suspects were quickly identified and arrested.

Four men were subsequently charged with attempted robbery in relation to this offence, and the two who played a key role were each sent to prison for three years. 

Andy Jackson, chairman of Durham Police Federation, said:
"This was an extremely challenging situation, and PC Canvin’s resolve remained in the face of extreme danger and violence. This courageous act required the officer to put the safety of other’s ahead of his own, and he should be commended and recognised for the bravery that his actions took."

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NORTHUMBRIA POLICE
The actions of Constable Adam Tate will be recognised at the 21st Police Bravery Awards on 14th July.

The awards, sponsored by Police Mutual, honour and recognise police officers who performed outstanding acts of bravery while on or off duty.

In August 2015, PC Tate was returning home from a holiday in Madeira on a Boeing 737 with his wife when he heard a commotion at the rear of the plane and saw that a male was on the floor of the cabin being restrained by two males.

The officer immediately identified himself as a police officer to the cabin crew and offered to assist.

He made his way to where the male was being restrained and provided assistance to the two males restraining him for the remainder of the flight, during which time the man tried to bite and spit at the officer and the other passengers.

It was at this time that PC Tate learned that the male had threatened to and then made moves to open one of the aircraft doors.

It came to light later, that the offender was a former flight attendant, and the flight staff were extremely concerned his aviation knowledge would mean he could succeed in opening the door of the cabin.

He had also attempted, earlier, to enter the plane’s cockpit, and had approached cabin crew to show them a letter from his dead boyfriend, expressing a wish to "join him."

The man was later sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for endangering the safety of the aircraft.

Jim Gray, chairman of Northumbria Police Federation, said:
"It is clear to me that the swift and brave actions of those who reacted to and then assisted, including Constable Tate, most probably prevented a mid-flight disaster from occurring. It is situations like these that remind us all that police officers are never 'off-duty' and are committed to protecting others, regardless of where that may be. Constable Tate is a fine representative of both Northumbria Police and of the Police Service as a whole".