Meet the off-duty police who took on a martial arts-trained thug at a wake

TWO off-duty police colleagues mourning a mutual pal's death at a wake took on a martial arts-trained thug who assaulted two bar staff.
Hampshire police chief constable, DC Ann Keir and Martin Drysdale. Picture: Jan BrayleyHampshire police chief constable, DC Ann Keir and Martin Drysdale. Picture: Jan Brayley
Hampshire police chief constable, DC Ann Keir and Martin Drysdale. Picture: Jan Brayley

Hampshire police's Martin Drysdale and Detective Constable Anne Keir thought nothing of stepping in at the Hoeford Inn, Fareham, in the incident.

Both went to arrest the man, who ran off prompting DC Keir to pull out her warrant card and arrest him on suspicion of assault. The thug punched Martin in the face.

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A police spokeswoman said: 'They were able to get him into handcuffs when back up arrived.

Hampshire police chief constable Olivia Pinkney, PC Malcolm Long and Vice Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Rear Admiral Iain Henderson. Picture: Jan BrayleyHampshire police chief constable Olivia Pinkney, PC Malcolm Long and Vice Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Rear Admiral Iain Henderson. Picture: Jan Brayley
Hampshire police chief constable Olivia Pinkney, PC Malcolm Long and Vice Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire Rear Admiral Iain Henderson. Picture: Jan Brayley

'They demonstrated total professionalism and bravery, putting themselves in harm's way to act without fear or safety equipment, to protect the public.'

The pair are among the best Hampshire police have to offer '“ and were given chief constable commendations at an award ceremony.

Awards were handed out to those who offered life-saving aid and stayed cool in a crisis.

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Cosham copper PC Malcolm Long thought of nothing when he plunged his finger into an open wound on a stabbing victim's neck.

The injured man had been found in Woodland Street, Portsmouth, on October 14 in 2016.

'˜The loss of blood had been so great that had he lost any more, he would have died,' a police spokeswoman said.

The News previously reported PC Long was set to be given the Royal Humane Society Certificate of Commendation.

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Now he has been given the award at a ceremony attended by chief constbale Olivia Pinkney and the vice lord lieutenant of Hampshire, Rear Admiral Iain Henderson.

PC Long had told The News: 'We are regularly faced with challenging or indeed distressing situations, and have to think and act quickly when responding under pressure.'

Chief constable Pinkney said: '˜We work every day to protect the public but these officers and members of staff honoured here have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

'˜Our officers often find themselves first at a scene and if they didn't act quickly, doing everything they can to save lives despite not being the medical experts, lives would be lost.

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'˜I can honestly say that when I read these accounts I was overwhelmed with pride '“ from lifting buses, to plugging life-threatening wounds with their hands and keeping a clear head in a truly traumatic situation, there is no doubt these acts of bravery deserve recognition.'

Another award-winner, Jamie Christian, was handed a chief constable congratulations.

The investigator was on his way to work at Fratton police station, in Kingston Crescent, Portsmouth, when a woman fell from a motorway bridge.

She tragically died in the incident, reported by The News at the time. But police staff investigator Jamie, was described as 'phenomenal' in how he dealt with the situation after seeing the woman fall.

A police spokeswoman said: 'Jamie has had no crisis management training and aged only 26, his actions that day have been described as 'phenomenal'.