Three members of the Northern Rail’s rail security team, provided by contractor Carlisle Security, were recently recognised for bravery on duty at Manchester Victoria rail station.
The officers received an award at Greater Manchester Police’s Bolton Division BeSafe Partnership Awards, at the Festival Hall in Bolton in February.
Officers Thomas Houston, David Day and Dean Mitchell were on a routine patrol at Manchester Victoria Rail Station when they noticed a man with a knife had entered the station. He was carrying an eight-inch knife and was accompanied by a female clearly in distress. The officers approached the man to ask what was going on when the male suddenly raised the knife to the female’s throat. The female was pleading for her life. The male was clearly agitated and claimed ‘voices’ were telling him to kill the female.
The officers used their training to try to talk down the male, who at first reacted positively. Just as the man offered to give up the knife, he regressed and again put the knife to the female’s throat. Again the officers persisted with the talk-down techniques and calmed the agitated man. The male removed the knife from the female’s throat. Seizing the moment the three officers knocked the knife away and restrained the man, allowing the female to break away. The three restrained the man until police attended. Martyn Guiver, York-based Crime and Contingency Planning Manager for Northern Rail said: "This was an outstanding act of moral courageousness and Northern Rail are proud of the actions taken by the officers. The rail security team was set up to keep staff and the travelling public safe and incidents like this more than justify our investment."
Carlisle Security Operations Director Martin Woollam said: "Thomas, Dave and Dean are to be congratulated on their outstanding bravery. They are a credit to the company and the industry they serve. They are shining examples to us all."
