THREE hero police officers – two of them rookies - who showed incredible courage when faced with being held at gunpoint have earned recognition for their bravery.

On August 16, 2022, a woman in Reading called for an ambulance at 5am to help with her son who had taken drugs and had become violent and aggressive towards his family.

The ambulance service asked the police to attend due to the man’s history of violence, so PC Tom Blount, PC Oliver Smith and PC Sarah Clark headed to the address.

On arrival at the house, the officers were met by a distressed woman who said she was waiting for her son to be sectioned. Other members of the family were also gathered around.

PC Clark stayed with the woman downstairs while PC Blount and PC Smith went to speak with the son. They called through his bedroom door to announce themselves, and the man said he was getting dressed.

After a reasonable amount of time, PC Blount said that they were coming in. As they entered, the man turned his back to the officers, seemingly buckling his belt. PC Blount repeatedly asked him to show his hands and turn around. He suddenly turned around, brandishing what looked like a large firearm, partly covered by a T-shirt. He pointed it at PC Blount, clearly stating twice: “I will shoot you.”

PC Blount recalls: “It looked like a submachine gun, and he pointed it straight at my torso. I instinctively thought 'I’m way too close, I can’t get out of here'. My only option is to grab the barrel and try and keep it away from my body, so if he manages to pull the trigger, it’s going to go off sideways.

“I grabbed it and shouted ‘firearm’, so my colleagues were aware. PC Smith grabbed the lad as well, and we struggled with him.

"Trying to keep the barrel away from our bodies was really tough. During the struggle, I felt his arm go limp and I was able to grab the gun out of his hand.”

PC Blount and PC Smith then handcuffed the man, along with PC Clark, who’d run up the stairs to help. They updated the control room and within minutes extra officers had arrived to get the man out of the room safely. It later emerged that the suspected firearm had been an air rifle.

The man was arrested and, following an investigation by Reading CID, he was convicted of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

At the time of the incident, PC Blount and PC Clark were new in service, having just finished their tutorship. For PC Blount, it was the first day of independent patrol.

Thames Valley Police Federation chairman Craig O’Leary said: “You never know when that call will come in… and you never know what you will see in front of you. Policing is a job like no other and no two days are the same.

“Tom and Sarah were new to the job, but showed immense bravery in what must have been terrifying circumstances. As did Oliver.

“They acted decisively and effectively to protect their colleagues and the public. They also showed kindness and consideration to the man and his distressed family.

“They are worthy winners.”

The three officers will attend the 2024 Thames Valley Police Federation Bravery Awards on Thursday, April 25.

At the event a winner will be announced who will travel to London for the National Police Federation Bravery Awards in July.