Awards for Police

Sgt Bob Sullivan and PCs Derek Glaister, Derrick Thurgood and Dave Newman were faced with a group of 40 youths trying to gatecrash a teenage party at the Woodland Centre four weeks ago.

The youths became violent and volatile, and the officers came under a hail of beer cans and bottles as they tried to bring the situation under control.

PC Glaister suffered bruising to his head but despite being injured, chased an offender and made an arrest. Sgt Sullivan took charge of the incident and personally made five arrests. PC Thurgood made an arrest and also chased and caught the offender who assaulted PC Glaister.

PC Newman, with police dog Barney, gave valuable support and arrested another offender.

At a West Downs police division awards ceremony at Centenary House, Durrington, on Monday, the officers were presented with divisional congratulations awards by the mayor of Chichester, councillor David Siggs.

Sgt Sullivan's award was for leadership and PCs Glaister, Thurgood and Newman for professionalism and dedication to duty. The citation said of their actions that night: "This was a fine example of leadership and professional policing in the face of violence and provocation."

PC Thurgood and Sgt Sullivan received a second award, together with PC Carrieanne Jasper, for "courage and professionalism" in dealing with a man who had cut his wrists at a house in Arundel.

The three officers went to the man's home on January 27, following a report he had barricaded himself in and injured himself.

Going into the house, they found the man in a drunken condition in the bath, with several cuts to his wrists bleeding into the bathwater. When the officers attempted to talk with him, he refused to be treated and then became aggressive towards them. Producing a razor blade, he started to cut his wrists again.

The bathroom was very small and it was difficult to reach the man, but in spite of the risk of infection from the blood and of being injured by the blade, the officers restrained the man and pulled him from the bath. He was taken to hospital for treatment.

PC Jasper said: "Because we acted quickly, he was taken to hospital and he was fine."

She added that she was "proud" to receive the award.

"It's fantastic, I'm really proud. I can't wait to tell my parents and watch it on TV."

"The officers took decisive action, where any delay might have resulted in serious injury to a man intent upon harming himself," the citation said.