A former Burnham-On-Sea taxi driver who disarmed and wrestled a sword-wielding man to the ground received a national award for his bravery on Wednesday (May 24th).
Alan Miller attended the Provincial Police Awards in London’s Docklands in recognition of his brave and courageous actions.
Mr Miller received a Silver Medal before attending a winners lunch with Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Colin Port.
The Silver Medal comes alongside a Waley-Cohen Award already received by Mr Miller from the force in July 2005.
Alan – who now works with British Energy – was parked up in his taxi off Coast Road in Brean on July 28th, 2004, when he spotted a man walking along the road with what first appeared to be a walking stick.
It soon became apparent he was carrying a Samurai sword and after threatening a group of people he was making his way towards a nightclub which was beginning to empty of people.
Realising the danger the man posed, Mr Miller left his cab and warned doorstaff at the club.
He then noticed the man walking upstairs towards the entrance of the club, before making a split second decision to tackle the man and wrestle the sword from him.
Mr Miller said: “As the man faced me, I saw him start to pull the blade from the sheath and at this point I decided I was going to try to detain him.”
“I ran down to him and held the man in a bear hug, put him in a head lock and then grabbed the sword with my other hand.”
“I then had help from the doorstaff who helped me wrestle the man to the ground, where we kept him until police arrived.”
The offender later appeared in court and pleaded guilty to carrying an offensive weapon.
Burnham Sector Deputy PS Roger Tolley told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “Mr Miller acted extremely courageously and, had he not intervened, we may have been looking at a far more serious incident. Due to his heroic actions, Mr Miller thoroughly deserves recognition.”
The awards are sponsored by Serco, which has supported the event for the last 41 years.
Mr Miller is pictured above with Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes of South Yorkshire Police.
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Bravery award for Burnham-On-Sea taxi driver
