The ‘intelligent and courageous’ work of two West Midlands Police Federation members who arrested three men suspected of involvement in a double stabbing has been rewarded with a bravery award.

PC Molly Stanley and PC Jack Cox remained on duty after their shift had come to an end in order to track down the suspects.

And they also recovered an axe and 10-inch knife, taking them off the streets of Coventry.

Now the officers have received the West Midlands Police Federation bravery award for Coventry, which is sponsored by Bluline Health.

PC Molly Stanley and PC Jack Cox.

Molly said: “We were really happy to make the arrests and to take the weapons off the street, and it’s nice to get an award for it.”

Jack added: “It’s really nice to be recognised, because it was a good job and you don’t always get that recognition.

“We’d already made one arrest and didn’t have to stay on, but we wanted to try to bring the other two in and I’m glad we did.”

The first arrest happened in Trinity Street, Coventry at around 8pm on 11 October, two days after a double stabbing in the city.

Molly and Jack are part of the city centre neighbourhood team.

Suspects identified

They had seen CCTV footage of the stabbing and were on plain clothes patrol and unarmed when they identified three suspects.

They approached the men after radioing for support, and while two ran off, they managed to detain the third suspect.

Jack said: “We could see a handle in his pocket and he was reaching for it and it turned out to be an axe.”

A search was carried out of the suspect’s house for more weapons and clothing linking him to the stabbing.

Around midnight – they had been due to finish their shift an hour earlier – Molly and Jack had returned to uniform patrols and were crewed with colleagues.

Jack was with Sergeant Richard Smart when they spotted people of interest in Lady Herbert’s Garden, a public park a short walk from Trinity Street. Molly was with PC Marc Cooper.

Arrests

He said: “I said I’ll look at what that is. I went in one end of the park, Molly and Marc were round the corner.

“It turned out to be the two suspects from earlier in the evening, so I drew my Taser, told them to get on the floor, and we arrested them.

“And then in the bushes was a long dagger that we recovered.”

Sgt Smart nominated the officers for their award, and the citation says: “This is for your exceptional bravery shown on 11 November 2024 at Trinity Street, Coventry.

“Following a double stabbing you attended the location in plain clothes and identified three suspects.

“You successfully arrested one aggressive man in possession of an axe, and remained on duty to search for the outstanding suspects who had for the time being escaped.

Intelligent and courageous

“You located them promptly at another location and detained them, a 10-inch knife being found discarded nearby.

“You acted intelligently and courageously to arrest all three men helping prevent further serious violence or risk to other members of the public.”

The officers will receive their award at the West Midlands Police Federation Bravery Awards on Thursday 30 January, which are sponsored by Slater and Gordon lawyers.

READ MORE: Meet new West Midlands Police Federation workplace representative Rhys McDowell.