Two Sussex Police officers who disarmed and detained a knife-wielding man in a hospital have been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards 2023.
On the evening of 4 April 2022, a man attended St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester with the intention of causing serious harm to NHS staff and the wider public.
The man initially engaged with security, producing a large knife and making threats. Security attempted to contain him, but he ran over to the ambulance bay, where paramedics were working. The man then threatened them with the knife, while ranting about hating the NHS.
One of the security guards went into the hospital and approached PC Amy Hanley and PC Matt Dodd, who were guarding a prisoner.
The officers arranged for security to stay with the prisoner while they went to deal with the developing situation.
Meanwhile, the knife-wielding man had made his way from the ambulance bay to the front doors of A&E and attempted to walk in, with the security guard following and trying to engage with him from a distance.
The man approached security with the knife outstretched, shouting:
“I’m going to stab everyone in A&E, I’m going to kill them all, I’m going to do it now.”
He went into the A&E reception where members of the public were waiting to be seen. At this moment PC Hanley and PC Dodd caught up with the man and attempted to engage him.
PC Hanley drew her Taser and moved into a position to close the man down, pushing him towards a wall rather than towards other members of the public, supported by PC Dodd.
The officers shouted at the man to drop the knife, but he did not, so PC Hanley deployed her Taser, which took effect.
Once he was on the floor, the officers moved in, secured the man and ensured the knife was safely out of harm's way.
Sussex Police Federation Chair Daren Egan said:
“If it wasn’t for Amy and Matt bravely walking into unknown danger, this man could have caused serious injury to NHS staff or members of the public.
"This could have been a tragic incident, but the officers acted quickly and professionally to detain the man in a safe manner. I commend them on their courageous actions.”
The Police Bravery Awards are this week and are sponsored by Police Mutual.
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