TWO Avon and Somerset Police officers have been recognised at an event in London for their bravery.
PC Stuart Outten from the Metropolitan Police was named as the overall winner at the Police Federation’s postponed 2020 Police Bravery Awards last night.
The awards ceremony honours officers from England and Wales for their acts of bravery while on or off duty.
PC Outten fought off an attacker carrying a machete after pulling him over for having no insurance in Leyton, east London, in August 2019.
He suffered six wounds to his head, skull fractures, two wounds to his arm and multiple finger fractures but was still able to use his Taser to disable the attacker.
Muhammad Rodwan was jailed for 16 years in January 2020 after being found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
93 nominees from 42 police forces in England and Wales were honoured for their bravery at the event in its 25th year.
PC Dean Sobey and PC Rowan Birch were Avon and Somerset Police’s nominees.
While on mobile patrol in Bristol in September 2019, Sobey and Birch were flagged down by a terrified woman who told them she had been threatened by a man armed with a gun.
The unarmed officers identified the man and chased him as he tried to escape on a bicycle.
They confronted and grappled with the offender, who pulled the weapon - later found to be an imitation gun - from his waistband.
PC Sobey received injuries to his torso during a struggle, but the officers were able to take control of the weapon.
Although it later transpired that the gun was an imitation, Sobey and Birch were commended for putting the safety of the victim and the public above their own.
The man received a 21-month prison sentence for robbery and carrying an imitation firearm.
.@ASPolice colleagues PC Dean Sobey and PC Rowan Birch had to grapple with a man to get a gun from his grasp. The courageous pair are now up for The National #PoliceBravery Awards. Here they are at Downing Street today! pic.twitter.com/0FVsEfTPlk
— Avon & Somerset Police Federation (@ASPolfed) October 12, 2021
Speaking outside 10 Downing Street yesterday, PC Sobey said: "We’re here today with all these incredible officers who, in the line of duty, have shown bravery."
PC Birch added: "It’s nice to celebrate and get everyone together and hear stories of what other people have done across the country.
"If you ask anyone, no-one here will say, 'We think we deserve to be here' because we’re doing what we do every day and it’s our job, but it’s nice to be recognised for that."
Andy Roebuck, Chair of Avon and Somerset Police Federation said: "Dean and Rowan acted with incredible courage and professionalism.
"They knew they had to detain him – the potential for him to commit a really heinous crime was very real. And they did so quickly and decisively.
"We are very proud of them both."
Congratulations to PC Stuart Outten, winner of the overall National #PoliceBravery Award 2020 👏
— Police Federation (@PFEW_HQ) October 12, 2021
Despite suffering multiple stab wounds and skull fractures, PC Outten still managed to disable an attacker armed with a machete to protect the public. @PoliceMutual @metpoliceuk pic.twitter.com/Q6ebdRObSs
Guests at the ceremony included Home Secretary Priti Patel, chairman of the National Police Chiefs Council Martin Hewitt, and lawyer and broadcaster Robert Rinder MBE.
PC Outten was given his award by John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here