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Policemen to receive bravery awards

Sgt Kevin Corden and PC Bob Fersey. Picture: ANDREW WARDLEY
Sgt Kevin Corden and PC Bob Fersey. Picture: ANDREW WARDLEY

TWO Sheppey policemen who foiled an armed raid on a bingo hall will be honoured on July 8 at the Police Bravery Awards in London.

Sgt Kevin Corden and PC Bob Fursey have been nominated for this annual event to recognise the unsung heroes of the service.

They could be voted one of the eight regional winners or the national winner.

The officers, who have already been awarded the Chief Constable of Kent’s Commendation, will attend the event at the Dorchester Hotel in the presence of Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Afterwards there will be a reception with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, at 10 Downing Street when 45 of the bravest officers in England and Wales will be honoured.

The incident happened on March 4, 2002, when Sgt Corden and PC Fursey were called to the King’s Bingo Hall in Broadway, Sheerness. They were responding to a call from the husband of a female employee, concerned for his wife’s welfare.

The woman, a cleaner, had called her husband in a state of panic and then hung up, but when her husband tried to call her back, he could not get through.

The officers, who thought they were answering a routine call, found a robbery in progress .

PC Fursey went to the side entrance while Sgt Corden went to the front door where he could see members of staff cowering from two balaclava-clad men armed with a jemmy and a stun gun.

Sgt Corden, who knew there was no time to wait for armed back-up, charged the robbers with his ASP baton drawn while making as much noise as possible.

The raiders kicked open some fire escape doors and fled, but were chased by cross country and marathon runner PC Fursey. He thought the loud bangs of the men kicking the doors were gunfire, but ignoring his own safety, he eventually caught one of the men.

One raider was sentenced to three years in prison. Another man was caught six months later.

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