Norfolk Police officers who arrested 'big burly violent men' nominated for bravery awards
The incident happened in January 2019
Two Norfolk Police officers who arrested 'big burly violent men' are up for national bravery awards.
In January 2019 PC Katie Swann and PC Marley-Jay Symonds were called out to the village of Ormesby following reports that an armed man was making threats to kill and blackmail people.
The man had left the scene once the officers arrived.
PCs Swann and Symonds went to the address of the offender’s mother where they found him and another wanted suspect.
The pair become very aggressive and started to resist the officers’ attempts to detain them.
PC Symonds tried to make an arrest but could hear that the other suspect was continuing to aggressively struggle with PC Swann.
Symonds dragged his suspect into the kitchen so he could aid PC Swann, but the man started to punch him, and PC Symonds had to use PAVA spray to get him under control.
PC Swann had managed to get one handcuff on her suspect in the struggle but he continued to be aggressive even after PC Symonds administered another dose of PAVA spray.
Swann then used her Taser on the man, but needed the help of further colleagues who had now arrived at the scene to get him finally subdued.
One of the offenders was jailed for 26 weeks, while the other was fined.
Norfolk Police Federation Secretary Sam Hawkins said the officers had had to demonstrate real teamwork to get the situation under control.
“These men were big burly violent offenders, so PC Swann and Symonds had to think on their feet and help each other out to get the job done,” she said.
“The fact that the suspects carried on struggling despite having PAVA and Taser deployed on them shows just how severe and violent this incident was.
“It was great police work, so our congratulations go to both officers for the bravery they have shown. They fully deserve this nomination.”
The National Police Bravery Awards honour officers from across England and Wales who have performed outstanding acts of bravery while on or off duty.
As nominees, PC Swann and PC Symonds will attend a prestigious daytime reception and evening awards ceremony in London in July 2021.
The 2020 event – the 25th National Police Bravery Awards – had been scheduled to take place this past summer but had to be cancelled due to Coronavirus.