Bravery awards for Met officers

An off-duty police constable who tackled a naked man running amok in a London church armed with a samurai sword received a bravery award today.

Pc Tom Tracey was in the congregation of St Andrews Catholic Church in Thornton Heath on 28 November 1999 when the man attacked worshippers injuring 11 of them. Snatching a 7ft pipe from the church organ, Pc Tracey and others wrestled him to the ground. The man, Eden Strang, was detained at a psychiatric hospital.

Pc Tracey, 42, is among 25 Met officers honoured with a Commissioner's "High Commendation" award. Pc Tracey said the congregation was still stunned by the event, two years later. Others who received awards included Pc Robert Purfit, who chased a fleeing suspect after being called to a house in Peckham on 31 August

1997. Pc Purfit was attacked twice, but despite injuries to his head, arms and body he caught the man, who was later convicted of murder.

Pc Glen Hesketh was off duty on 3 February 2000 when he saw a man in Bushey pointing a handgun at passing cars. The officer disarmed him. The gun turned out to be an imitation. Eight unarmed police constables - Ian Ash, John English, Mark Goody, Paul Hutchinson, Mark Newman, Stephen Cox, Graham Jenkins and Tim Perry - were commended after a car chase on 28 April 1999 during which a gunman fired 40 rounds at officers. Armed police stormed the flat of the gunman who later received nine life sentences. Thirteen unnamed officers from the Met's SO19 firearms unit were also honoured.

Det Sgt Ron Turnbull helped to exhume the bodies of war crime victims in Kosovo. His evidence contributed to the conviction of war criminals including former Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic.