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January
17, 2006
Brave police officers receive awards after
Burnham-On-Sea siege
Nine
police officers who were fire-bombed while dealing with a siege
in Burnham-On-Sea during 2004 were honoured at an awards ceremony
on Tuesday January 17th.
The
officers were called to a property in Oxford Street, above, after
a man barricaded himself in his home in an attempt to prevent
building work being carried out to a nearby premises.
The
incident attracted widespread media attention and led to Oxford
Street being closed off for several days.
 The
man inside was unhappy about work being carried out nearby and
threatened the workmen.
He
removed roof tiles and emerged through a hole in the roof brandishing
a petrol bomb.
A
police support group entered the property to remove an elderly
occupant to safety, and three of the officers spoke to the man
in an attempt to calm him down, but were doused with petrol in
the process.
The
man set fire to the petrol, causing a fireball which spread across
an area of the house - setting fire to PC Neil Holand, PC Paul
Fox and PC Shad Hussain.
The
officers managed to put the flames out and sprayed CS spray into
the loft space. Other officers, who accessed the property from
a different direction, then arrested the man. He was charged with
arson with intent to endanger life.
Following
the incident in June 2004, the nine officers involved have been
praised for their actions.
During
the awards ceremony on January 17th, PC Kevin Tool, PC Glen Lloyd,
PC Tracey Stiles, PC Neil Holand, PC Paul Fox, PC Shad Hussain,
PC Georgina Watt, Acting Inspector Ian Kennett and Sergeant Andy
Southern will be presented with Chief Constable's Commendations.
Chief
Inspector John Holt said: "The officers executed their duty
with courage, respect and total professionalism. All of the officers
deserve recognition for their actions which brought an individual,
who was a danger to himself and others, safely into custody."
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