Yorkshire officers who saved lives are in running for Police Bravery Awards

Officers from each of the region’s four forces have been nominated for acts of bravery while on or off duty, including disarming a violent killer, rescuing a family from a fire and arresting a murder suspect in a burning building.

They are among 69 officers from England and Wales in the running to be named overall winner or one of eight regional winners when the awards take place this evening.

The dramatic arrest of a murder suspect in a burning building last July earned South Yorkshire constables Chelsea Rudge and Christopher Beevers their nomination.

The pair discovered a flat fire when they were called to reports of a man shouting for help in Sheffield.

After dragging the unconscious man away from the fire, they spotted two men running inside and followed them.

One of the men, who became violent when they tried to arrest him, was later found guilty of murder.

Neil Bowles, chair of the South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “It is these types of incidents that make policing unlike any other job, and it is the bravery and professionalism shown by these two officers that make them extraordinary people.”

Four North Yorkshire officers – constables Steven Harvey, Martin Scott, Dave Ellison and Alex Gregory – were chosen to represent the force after they overpowered and disarmed a violent teenager who had just killed his friend in York last July.

The officers were confronted with a horrific scene of trauma and continuing lethal violence when the 19-year-old stabbed his friend multiple times while suffering a psychotic episode.

They subdued the teenager, who had begun stabbing himself, and provided life-saving first aid to him until further help arrived. He was later jailed for manslaughter.

Mike Stubbs, chairman of the North Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “These officers put themselves at huge risk, confronting an armed offender who had just killed his friend and was extremely violent and dangerous. They have shown the fines values of professionalism courage and compassion and their bravery should be commended.”

Humberside constables Mark Hawley and Carol Ashforth were nominated after they risked their lives by approaching an armed man who was threatening to behead his girlfriend.

They found the man, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, on a busy Hull street in April 2015.

After trying to talk him to down the rifle he was carrying, they tried to wrestle the weapon from the man.

PC Hawley suffered a fractured jaw when the man fought back. The man briefly escaped but was arrested a short time later.

Meanwhile, West Yorkshire constable Sean Cannon rescued a woman and four children from a burning house in Bradford.

Without thought for his own safety, PC Cannon went inside four times, passing the fire on each occasion, to reach them. He then used fire extinguishers from his police vehicle to try to put out the fire until firefighters arrived.

He was presented with a Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation from West Yorkshire’s Chief Fire Officer Simon Pilling last month.

The awards in London are hosted by the Police Federation of England and Wales and sponsored by Police Mutual.

They will be preceded by a reception at Downing Street for all those nominated.

Federation chairman Steve White said: “It is an honour to be able to recognise these incredibly brave officers and thank them for their efforts. Many of the nominees put their own lives at risk, which just goes to show, for them, duty is just the beginning. Every year I am blown away by the calibre of the nominees, and this year is no exception.”