TWO Essex Police officers who confronted a man wielding two kitchen knives at an Islamic centre hours after the murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby will be honoured at the Police Bravery Awards tonight.<\/p>\n
PC Gus Morrison (left) and PC Dafydd Hughes are among 64 police officers from England and Wales who will be honoured for risking death and serious harm to protect the public.<\/p>\n
The unarmed officers managed to subdue the knife-wielding suspect and entered a smoke-filled building to help a member of the public to safety.<\/p>\n
PC Hughes said it was a \u201csurprise\u201d to receive the invitation to tonight\u2019s awards. \u201cWe didn\u2019t know we had been nominated so when we were notified it came as a bit of a shock. We didn\u2019t expect it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
PC Morrison insisted that other officers would have responded in the same way to the situation. \u201cSo many people do brave things every day and don\u2019t get recognised so I guess that\u2019s why it feels a bit embarrassing,” he said.<\/p>\n
Speaking before a Downing Street reception for nominees earlier today, PC Morrison said: \u201cYou don\u2019t really think about it at the time. You get on and do it. I suppose that it is afterwards that it hits you. It\u2019s just one of those things \u2013 you just crack on and do the job. You need five minutes and a stiff drink but that\u2019s it really.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark Smith, Chairman of Essex Police Federation, said he was \u201cvery proud\u201d of the two officers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is my favourite time of the year, bringing officers to the Bravery Awards,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is a shame that we can\u2019t recognise everybody. Our officers are out there doing brave things every day. These two officers here did a very, very brave thing. I\u2019m glad to bring them up here and support them.”<\/p>\n
Mr Smith added:\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s important to get the good news stories out there too and let the public know what we do every day.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"