Latest news with #policebravery
Telegraph
14 hours ago
- Telegraph
Met Police ‘bravest officer' award winner suspended over alleged sexual assault
A policeman once named the bravest officer in England and Wales has been charged with sexual assault. Sgt Stephen Brown has been suspended by the Metropolitan Police following the alleged incident at Biggleswade railway station in Bedfordshire in November 2019. The 47-year-old, who is reportedly a counter-terrorist specialist firearms officer, will appear at St Albans Crown Court on Sept 1. In 2014, he won a national Police Bravery Award for tackling and disarming a man wielding a samurai sword in north London. Sgt Brown stepped in to stop the man on Christmas Eve 2012, who had stabbed a woman earlier that evening. The attacker repeatedly swung the sword at his face and neck. The Met officer discharged his CS spray into the man's face, before quickly moving towards him and striking his arm with a baton three times while the sword was raised in the air. The man was forced to drop his weapon, with Sgt Brown immediately jumping on top of him to restrain him. The offender continued to struggle violently before backup officers arrived and he was arrested. Officers later discovered the bag he was carrying contained an arsenal of weapons. Not guilty plea Sgt Brown was presented with the bravery award, which is given annually to officers who demonstrate acts of heroism in the course of their duty, by Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, the then commissioner of the Met Police, at a ceremony in London. Theresa May, the then home secretary, said: 'The actions of Sgt Stephen Brown are a powerful reminder of the commitment and courage that police officers bring to their role. 'Sgt Brown put his own life in danger to defuse a terrifying situation. His intervention protected the public and may well have saved the lives of others.' Sgt Brown, from Bedfordshire, appeared at Stevenage magistrates' court in November, when he entered a plea of not guilty to sexual assault. A Met Police spokesman said: 'We are aware that a serving Met officer has been charged with sexual assault following an alleged incident in November 2019. 'He is currently suspended.'
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Met terror cop winner of bravest officer in England award after he stopped a Samurai sword attack is suspended after being charged with sexual assault
A Met Police counter terror firearms officer once named the bravest officer in England and Wales has been suspended after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman at a train station. Sergeant Stephen Brown, 47, is claimed to have sexually touched the woman without her consent at Biggleswade Railway Station on November 29 2019. The force said: 'We are aware that a serving Met officer has been charged with sexual assault following an alleged incident in November 2019. He is currently suspended.' Brown was previously the recipient of a national bravery award in 2014 after he tackled a samurai sword-wielding attacker. The knifeman repeatedly lunged at him with the weapon until the officer moved inside its arc and struck him with his metal baton. Ahla Timofei, then 26, dropped the sword and Sgt Brown leapt on top of him, holding him down until colleagues arrived. When they searched his rucksack they found a terrifying arsenal of weapons including a crossbow, mallet, machete and gas masks. Brown was named the overall winner of the Police Bravery Awards at a ceremony in Central London, recieving the award from then-head of the Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe. Ex-Prime Minister Theresa May lauded the officer, saying his actions were 'a powerful reminder of the commitment and courage that police officers bring to their role'. Brown, of Sandy, Central Bedfordshire, appeared at Stevenage Magistrates Court in November, when he entered a plea of not guilty. He is set to appear at St Albans Crown court in September. British Transport Police, who charged Brown, said: 'Stephen Brown, aged 47, of Sandy, Bedfordshire, will appear at St Albans Crown Court on Monday 1 September charged with sexual assault. 'The charge relates to an incident that took place at Biggleswade station on 29 November 2019.' The dramatic confrontation involving Sgt Brown took place when he was called to an attack on a woman in Holloway Road, North London. Timofei, 26, was later found guilty of attempted murder and affray and a judge ordered that he spend the rest of his life in a secure mental health unit Witnesses heard the victim's screams after Timofei set upon her with his sword, severing her thumb and leaving her with wounds to her face, arms and legs. As his partner gave first aid to the bleeding 22-year-old Italian woman, Sgt Brown confronted the sword-wielding maniac alone. Describing what happened, Sgt Brown said: 'I was running full pelt at him and he turned around and raised the sword straight up in the air. 'He swung downwards and the sword missed my neck by about a foot. I stepped back and said 'put the sword down', but he didn't listen and took a few more swings. 'After spraying him he went to scratch his eye and I thought, I've got to do this now. I rushed in and he raised his sword again but I hit his arm as many times as I could and managed to jump on top of him and the cavalry arrived. 'I could see in his eyes he wanted to kill me. I wasn't going to see Christmas: I thought my luck had run out.' Sgt Brown was guided to the swordman by a passer-by who saw the original attack and followed him while on the phone to a police operator. The officer said: 'I have no doubt that he wasn't going to stop until he killed someone that night. I also have no doubt that any cop would have done the same. 'I'm not a hero: the real hero is the member of the public who went above and beyond and followed him, having seen what he had done.' Timofei, 26, was later found guilty of attempted murder and affray and a judge ordered that he spend the rest of his life in a secure mental health unit. Then-Home Secretary Theresa May said: 'The actions of Sgt Stephen Brown are a powerful reminder of the commitment and courage that police officers bring to their role. 'He put his own life in danger to defuse a terrifying situation. His intervention protected the public and may well have saved the lives of others. 'We should reflect on the bravery shown by all the officers nominated, and that displayed by all police officers in the course of their duties each day.' Steve White, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, added: 'I am constantly humbled and amazed by the selfless acts of bravery carried out by police officers on a day to day basis. 'For every act of courage and bravery recognised in the Police Bravery Awards there are hundreds more that occur in our communities every day that go unrecognised.'
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
West Midlands sergeant in dog attack rescue in line for award
A police sergeant who saved a woman from a savage dog attack in Yardley is in the running for a national police bravery Paul Williams, from West Midlands Police, responded alone to an emergency call on 23 May 2023 to find a woman being mauled by two large German shepherd-type woman had already been severely injured and was in a critical Williams first tried to use a Taser to subdue one of the dogs, but it malfunctioned. He got into his car and then got out and managed to incapacitate one dog with his Taser, even though one of the animals bit him on his arm. Sgt Williams said he arrived to find the woman "on the floor, motionless, being really savagely attacked by two dogs".He said: "You don't really have time to think. I had a Taser on me. I had two shots in the Taser, so quick plan, two dogs, two shots."The plan was get out, shoot the two dogs with the two cartridges in my Taser, save the woman, that's as far as it went." 'Horrific injuries' After the first shot malfunctioned, he said the dogs ran towards got in the car to examine the the dogs ran straight back to the woman, he got out again and tried again."I took aim on the dog that was attached to the female, shot that dog, which dropped," he he added: "The second dog ran at me, jumped up and latched on to my arm."As he fought off the second dog, the first dog got up "yelping and screaming" after the Taser and ran off, with the second dog following, he said another police car arrived and took the woman, who had "horrific injuries", straight to hospital with blue lights on, because there was not time for an spent four weeks in intensive Police Bravery Awards 2025, an annual event by the Police Federation, will be announced on 10 July. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Officers who confronted Axel Rudakubana recognised
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. Fathers of Southport victims complete London marathon in tribute to daughters Public inquiry into Southport murders begins Southport dad runs for Elsie's 'legacy of hope' Alice 'will be happy' to see schoolfriends playing Merseyside Police PFEW
BBC News
09-05-2025
- BBC News
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 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 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 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 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.
