Officers who confronted Axel Rudakubana in Southport get award nod
Three police officers who were first on the scene to respond to the "unimaginable horror" of the Southport attacks have been nominated for National Police Bravery Awards.Sgt Gregory Gillespie, PC Luke Holden and PCSO Timothy Parry of Merseyside Police confronted and detained killer Axel Rudakubana after reports a man was attacking children with a knife.Alice Aguiar, nine, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and six-year-old Bebe King were killed and 10 others were injured in the attack at a dance class in the seaside town on 29 July 2024.Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said the officers faced "the most harrowing situation Merseyside Police has ever had to deal with" with courage and professionalism.
The officers had been on duty working out of Southport police station when they each heard a radio transmission at midday requesting for officers to attend immediately at Hart Street."In those frantic initial moments, they were unaware of the horrific events taking place", Ms Kennedy said."They dismissed any thoughts for their own safety, bravely detaining the offender while protecting and helping the victims and those inside."Rudakubana was jailed for a minimum of 52 years in January after admitting to the murders.Ms Kennedy described the award nomination as a "true testament" to the three officers for their courage and professionalism in the face of "unimaginable horror", adding the force was "immensely proud"."Our thoughts remain with the victims, their families, those who suffered serious injuries and all those involved in the appalling attack," she added.
Merseyside Police Federation Chair Chris McGlade said: "In the face of the most challenging and perilous of circumstances, these three officers exemplified this commitment."He said they they acted without "without hesitation" and had demonstrated "the highest levels of bravery"."Their professionalism was unparalleled, and it is fitting that we acknowledge and honour their actions accordingly," he added. The National Police Bravery Awards, which recognises the extraordinary acts of courage by police officers from forces across England and Wales, takes place on 10 July.
Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
25 minutes ago
- BBC News
Man charged after two stabbed in Peterborough city centre
A 45-year-old man has been charged with assault after two men were stabbed in Peterborough city men were taken to hospital after the incident in Geneva Street, off Park Road, Peterborough, at 02:30 BST on remain in a stable condition, Cambridgeshire Police said, with one suffering life-threatening injuries and the other seriously hurt. A man from Bretton, Peterborough, is due before Huntingdon Magistrates' Court later, charged with two counts of assault causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a knife. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Telegraph
29 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Household Cavalry corporal shamed after slapping female recruit's bottom
The 28-year military career of a member of the Household Cavalry came to a 'sadly discreditable' end after he slapped the bottom of a female recruit. Experienced Corporal of Horse Steven Henderson's behaviour in smacking the 19-year-old twice on a night out with young trainees was 'outrageous', a court martial heard. 'An experienced, senior NCO can't expect to lay hands on young female recruits in this way and have people be anything other than outraged,' Assistant Judge Advocate General John Atwill said. It was 'a sadly discreditable end to your creditable career', he added. Digraceful conduct of an indecent kind Father of two Cpl Henderson, who is leaving the Army, pleaded guilty to one charge of disgraceful conduct of an indecent kind at Bulford Military Court, Wilts. The 45-year-old has been fined £1,800 and must pay a £100 service compensation order to the victim. The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment is known for its iconic tunics and plumed helmets, and for being at the heart of the King's Coronation, Royal weddings and state occasions. Cpl Henderson drank 'a considerable amount of alcohol' on the night out with trainees who were 'much younger' than him, the court martial heard. No flirtatious behaviour or consent Prosecutor Captain Ciaran Rafferty said Cpl Henderson went on a night out in Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. The court heard the night out started in a Wetherspoons venue before moving to a pub called The Anne of Cleves and ending up at a karaoke bar named The Generous Briton. The prosecutor said Cpl Henderson slapped the bottom of one of the trainees at one of the pubs. Capt Rafferty said of the second incident: 'Later on in the evening, when the bar had closed, Henderson slapped the bottom of the same trainee again and sarcastically made jokes that it was somebody else. 'From the complainant's perspective, seemingly without any context, there wasn't any flirtatious behaviour or any indication she consented to these touches in any way.' She felt 'some confusion' and 'shock' at the incidents, the second of which happened while she was waiting for a taxi. 'Horseplay gone too far' Capt. Rafferty said that Cpl Henderson had a 'belief someone had slapped his bottom before he slapped her bottom and it was his belief this was the complainant'. The prosecutor said that Cpl Henderson has served 28 years in the British army and is due to leave the service at the end of the month. Cpl Henderson had some contact with trainees as part of his job in the household cavalry, but his role did not involve any teaching or training. For the defence, Chris Harper said Cpl Henderson's actions were simply 'horseplay gone too far'.
Daily Mail
30 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Rape charge against man staying in asylum hotel 'was kept secret to avoid stirring up community tensions'
Council chiefs have been accused of hushing up a rape charge against the inhabitant of an asylum hotel in order to avoid inflaming 'community tension'. The man was reportedly charged with rape and voyeurism following an attack on a woman on June 11, The Sun reported. He is believed to have been living at the Royal Beach Hotel in Southsea, which has functioned as an asylum hotel. However, the man appeared in front of Portsmouth magistrates' on June 16 and he was remanded in custody - so he is no longer living in the hotel. But there are now allegations that members of Portsmouth City Council sought to keep the nature of charged man's accommodation secret in order to avoid community unrest. Portsmouth City Council members were reportedly briefed in private about the charges against the man. However, it has been claimed that councillors were warned not to mention that the suspect lived in an asylum hotel. It was also reported that Portsmouth Independents Party leader Cllr George Madgwick was urged not to share 'privileged confidential information'. A young girl waves to security officers as a group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident in the Channel on June 20 Councillor Madgwick said: 'This is precisely why the public don't trust politicians and public bodies: things are hidden that should be disclosed. Anyone involved in any form of cover-up from disclosure to the public should question their role in a publicly funded position.' There are also two other cases in England, one in Manchester and one in London, in which the fact that suspects lived in asylum hotels was not disclosed. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick called the small-boat crossings 'a national security emergency'. 'Women in towns with asylum hotels shouldn't have to live in fear. The authorities must trust the public with the truth and act to protect them,' he said. A government spokesperson said: 'Sexual violence of all types is a despicable crime, causing the most unimaginable harm to victims and survivors. 'We recognise the immense bravery shown by them throughout their pursuit of justice, and protecting them remains central to our mission to halve violence against women and girls in a decade. 'We have already taken action to ban foreign nationals who commit sexual offences from being granted asylum, and will do everything in our power to pursue deportation from the UK so that these vile criminals are off our streets and paying the price for their crimes.'
