A GMP officer PC Ansell has been awarded the King’s Commendation for Bravery after his response to a road traffic collision in Whalley Range in July 2023.
Based on the Trafford district response team at the time of the attack, PS Ansell was awarded for the courage he demonstrated as Jacob Brown, a 27-year-old local man, came at him and other officers from behind with a knife.
PS Foster was struck to the head several times, as Brown aimed a knife at his neck. PS Ansell jumped to the defence of his fellow Sergeant before being stabbed in the neck. PC Wolstencroft instinctively discharged his taser, allowing for his arrest. The actions of all three officers ultimately saved each other and meant no members of the public suffered any injuries.
Brown was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in April 2024.
The officers won the Bravery Award at our Chief Constable’s Annual Awards in October 2023 and were subsequently also awarded the John Egerton Bravery Award by GMP’s own Police Federation in April last year. The award won in July 2024 was the North West Bravery Award.
This incident very sadly is just one example of assaults police officers face in the line of duty.
