Police tackled blood-covered gunman

TWO police officers who tackled a blood-covered gunman in Warrington town centre have been nominated for a national police bravery award.
The pair overpowered the man who was carrying a fully loaded semi-automatic Glock 17, 9mm pistol and was also in possession of a sawn-off shotgun and ammunition for both weapons.
Sgt Graham Elliott and PC Ian Hampson were on mobile patrol in Warrington when they were informed by a member of the public that there was a man on a bus with a handgun.
The witnesses, who had followed the bus from Manchester, said the man was very agitated and covered in blood.
A police armed response were at least eight minutes away so the two officers followed the bus until it came to an abrupt stop.
The bus driver told the officers the gunman had got off the bus and was heading for the town centre on foot. He had a holdall over his left shoulder and was carrying a handgun in his right hand.
The two officers drove their vehicle at speed towards the man, mounted the pavement and blocked him between the car and a large bin. The man began to fall forward and the officers jumped out of the car, grabbed hold of him and after a brief struggle managed to overpower him.
The handgun was a fully loaded semi-automatic Glock 17, 9mm pistol and inside the bag was a sawn off shotgun and ammunition for both weapons.
Later, the officers were were told the offender had shot his girlfriend in the face earlier that day and had left her to die.
At the point of arrest and later at the custody suite, the offender told the officers that had they not managed to detain him, he would have shot them both.
Simon Roberts, chairman of the Police Federation in Cheshire said: “These two officers showed tremendous courage in dealing with this dangerous person and deserve this accolade.
“It is yet another example of police officers placing the safety and well being of the community and the people that live in it before their own. I would ask the Home Secretary to look at stories of bravery such as this and the other nominations prior to making devastating cuts to police officers pay, conditions and pensions.
“These officers who, she will no doubt meet and applaud, but is advocating will receive a significant reduction in pay and see their pension rights attacked”.