15 July 2005
Tony Blair has spoken of the courage and resolve shown by police officers in the aftermath of the London bombings.
He saluted them in the garden of 10 Downing Street at the annual Police Bravery Awards.
The PM said:
"These people put their lives on the line every day to protect the country. They did a magnificent job along with the other emergency services last Thursday. The country should be very, very proud of them."
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair added:
"The horror for me is tinged with pride. This is the greatest operational crisis British police have faced since 1940 and I salute the cooperation across many forces."
The PM stood by the side of officers for yesterday’s two-minute silence to remember victims.
This year’s top bravery award was won by constables Gareth Gent, 32, and Liam Wood, 31, from Doncaster, South Yorks.
With little regard for their own safety, the duo tackled a gunman who had just shot a man twice.
Not only did the South Yorkshire constables have to overcome the offender and wrestle the gun from him, but they also then had to restrain the injured man, who, in spite of the shots to his abdomen, got to his feet and began to assault his attacker.
The Downing Street reception was followed by the awards event at The Dorchester Hotel, attended by Home Secretary Charles Clarke.
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