A POLICE officer was commended last night for his brave actions during a violent riot.
PC Stuart Allan held off people who were trying to get into an ambulance to attack two injured police officers during a disturbance in Berwick-upon-Tweed in 2007.
The officer happened upon the incident while visiting family in the area.
He was among more than 30 officers who were honoured during last night’s Police Awards and Commendations Ceremony.
PC Allan (pictured) arrived on the scene to find two officers knocked unconscious by the riotous mob. He immediately jumped to the aid of paramedics who were struggling to contain the thugs.
One of the injured officers required immediate evacuation by air ambulance. A nearby car park was identified as a suitable landing zone for the helicopter and PC Allan used skills he had gained while serving with the Royal Navy to act as landing officer for the chopper.
He secured the landing zone, cleared obstructions and guided the helicopter in.
‘It was a large disturbance involving about 30 people,’ he said.
‘They were rocking the ambulance trying to get at the officers. One of them had been knocked unconscious and he has now had to retire on medical grounds.’
PC Allan said it was only on reflection that he realised how scary the incident had been.
‘You don’t have time to be scared at the time,’ he said. ‘You just go into autopilot.’
One of the most important awards of the night went to PC Stephen Gilman, who was given the Chief Inspector Richard Mauger award for outstanding achievement for his actions when dealing with a violent man armed with a knife.
PC Gilman attended a house in the Forest following a report of a man in a distressed mental state.
At first the man seemed OK but PC Gilman had to react quickly as the offender ran into the kitchen to grab a knife, threatening to harm himself.
The officer wrestled the knife from his hand but at one point during the struggle the blade was pointed towards PC Gilman’s face.
He said the seriousness of the situation had hit him afterwards.
‘It was not until afterwards that I realised he had locked me in the house with him. My colleague had to climb through the window as I restrained him,’ he said.
Home minister Geoff Mahy said he was in awe of the multiple stories heard during the evening of officers putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the public.
Article posted on 30th October, 2009 - 2.29pm
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