Met officer who chased off ten men during street attack wins annual bravery award

PC Winston Mugarura shares the award with two officers from the West Midlands

Winston Mugarura intervened when a lone man came under attack by a group of up to ten assailants (Police Federation)

A Metropolitan police officer who grappled with a group of ten men during a vicious street attack has been named as one of three winners of an annual national police bravery award.

PC Winston Mugarura shares the award with two officers from the West Midlands who disarmed a mentally-ill man who had stabbed three worshippers at a Birmingham mosque.

PC Mugarura was off-duty when he saw a group chase down their lone victim and kick him on the ground. The officer tried to shield the man from attack and managed to pull him to safety.

Members of the gang, who also injured two women, fled pursued by the officer, who caught the main suspect and arrested him. He was also able to identify other members of the gang and three were given jail sentences.

John Tully, chairman, Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “PC Winston Mugarura was off-duty, yet he put himself into a dangerous situation to protect others. He deserves this award for his courage in confronting a group of ten assailants.”

PC Adam Koch and PC Jean Stevens were also given the award for disarming a man at a Birmingham mosque who attacked them with a commando-style knife. PC Koch suffered stab and slash injuries but managed to wrestle the suspect to the ground while his colleague arrested the 32-year-old.

Speaking from his hospital bed after undergoing surgery, PC Koch said he owed his life to worshippers at the mosque. “I owe these people a massive debt of thanks. If it wasn’t for their help, bravely running towards a man they had already seen brandishing a large knife, I may not be here today. In the end it was a great community effort to overpower the man and arrest him.”

It was the first time that the national award has been shared in its 20-year history. The winners were presented with their award last night by Theresa May, the Home Secretary, at an event in London.