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3 local men get National
Police and Public Bravery Awards
Photograph we thanks to
FLP
THE Police Service have honoured the
bravery of 3 local men last night at the National Police and Public Bravery
Awards. 3 members of the public from Merseyside were honoured at the 51st Annual
NPCC Police Public Bravery Awards held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bloomsbury,
in London. Stephen Smith, Christopher Horton and Sean Leek won a Gold medal at
the awards, which are sponsored by The Goldsmith's Company. The awards recognise
members of the public for actions, which support the Police in preserving law
and order. The 2016 awards ceremony recognised the acts of 94 people for their
courage and bravery. Here's Stephen Smith, Christopher Horton and Sean Leek's
story...
On a Sunday evening, an armed robbery occurred at a store in Merseyside. A
largely built male entered the store, brandishing a long barrelled black handgun
at the female cashier. The male was dressed in black clothing with his face
partially covered from view. Money was demanded from the till and the lone
female cashier stood back so that the male offender could reach over and take
it. The offender then left the store and the alarm was raised with colleagues in
the stock area at the back of the store. Despite knowing that a firearm had been
used during the offence, Stephen Smith, Christopher Horton and Sean Leek
immediately ran out to the roadway at the front of the store and spotted the
suspect walking calmly along a road opposite. They shouted at the male who then
began to run. With no fear for their own safety, all 3 gave chase. The offender
realised he was being pursued and turned into a side road, before stopping and
again raising the handgun towards the three men, telling them to get back. The
offender continued to run and, in an effort to evade capture, ran into the rear
of a nearby garden. Without fear for themselves, the three men continued to
chase the suspect into the gardens, which were dark and unlit. They lost sight
of the offender for a short period of time and, in an effort to locate him,
split up so that a larger area could be contained. A local resident indicated
that a male was in an adjacent garden and the three men approached the offender
who then became violent. The three then restrained the offender, whilst securing
a bag which contained the firearm and cash stolen from the store, until the
arrival of the Police. The offender was charged and remanded in custody.
Merseyside Police Chief Constable Andy Cooke said:- "The actions of all of
our winners show true community spirit. It's always humbling when we see members
of the public take such positive action, to keep other members of their
community safe. Their actions were completely selfless and deserve to commended.
We are committed to putting our communities 1st and the awards given at last
night show that members of our communities have that same ethos. I am honoured
to have been able to attend the awards evening."
Honorary Awards Secretary, Chief Constable Stephen Watson, said:- "Each of
those honoured put themselves in harm's way to ensure the safety of others. They
acted with bravery and public spiritedness in a desperate moment and it's an
absolute honour to be able to recognise them in this way."
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