Hero Cops Nominated for Bravery Awards After Explosive Showdown
A band of heroic Hampshire officers who faced down a man armed with a handgun and a homemade bomb have been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards 2024.
High-Stakes Stand-Off in Gosport
On 28 August 2023, PCs Emma Davies and Tim Clarkson arrived at a Gosport address to arrest a wanted man. The suspect refused entry and wouldn’t talk. Backup, including PS David Gibbs, PC Nathan Fulton, and PC Scott Thomson, quickly joined the scene. Davies circled to cover a possible escape.
Using a battering ram, PS Gibbs and PC Clarkson forced their way inside—only to be confronted by the suspect holding a handgun to his head, with wires connected to two ‘man bags’ strapped across him.
Explosive Danger and Quick-Thinking Saves Lives
Despite desperate attempts to negotiate, the man detonated one of the devices while pointing his gun at officers. Sparks flew, toxic smoke filled the air. PC Davies, hearing gunfire, rushed towards the chaos, risking her own safety to back up her team.
Luckily, the Taser deployed by PCs Clarkson and Thomson brought the suspect down. They wrestled him to the floor, fearing the second device might explode at any moment. Two pairs of handcuffs secured the suspect while officers kicked the still-smoking bomb away.
PC Clarkson moved the device to a grassy verge and cordoned off the area, while PC Davies extinguished the fire with a fire extinguisher. Explosive experts later confirmed the deadly device contained glass shards and metal ball bearings—potentially fatal shrapnel if fully detonated.
Praise for Bravery and Lifesaving Action
“Their actions individually and as a team meant the outcome was far less serious than it could possibly have been,” said Hampshire Police Federation Chair Zoë Wakefield. “They have shown outstanding bravery and courage in a life-threatening situation.”
Chief Constable Scott Chilton praised the officers’ “exceptional and selfless bravery” in facing a “highly dangerous and unpredictable individual” in a smoke-filled, toxic environment.
“Despite being confronted with an armed and motivated suspect whose intention was to cause serious harm, these officers did not hesitate in protecting the public, their colleagues, and even the suspect himself,” Chilton added.
All five officers—Sergeant David Gibbs, PCs Tim Clarkson, Scott Thomson, Nathan Fulton, and Emma Davies—are set to be honoured at the National Police Bravery Awards this July for their fearless actions in the line of duty.
