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.”
