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12th July 2023
10:32am BST
Bodycam video has been released showing the moment three heroic police officers disarmed a man with a knife to his ex-wife's throat.
When officers arrived at the scene in Basingstoke, the man was found with a knife held to his former partner's throat and one of the children's bedrooms was on fire.
PCs Robert Davies, James Pawley and James Langmead Police have been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards 2023 for their heroic actions.
The offender, Kyle Butler, 29, has been jailed for life for attempted murder.
The officers were faced with a barricade of children's toys and furniture when they arrived at the domestic violence incident on 24 June last year.
After forcing entry into the building, they were met with screaming, smoke, flames and a man threatening to slit his partner's throat in front of their two small children.
The house was filling with thick black smoke as the fire was spreading quickly.
PC Pawley, helped by PC James Langmead, decided to tackle the flames by removing a burning mattress.
Whilst they dealt with the fire, PC Davies went into the master bedroom to find Butler sat behind his ex-wife who had their two young children in her arms. Butler was holding a knife across his ex-partner's neck and was threatening to slit her throat.
Meanwhile, PCt Davies tried to calm down the man with the knife, but he refused to surrender.
He said: "When it became apparent that things were critically bad I attempted to pull on my taser twice, I have two cartridges both of them were fired, we were very close, didn't have the effect I wanted so effectively we had to resort to physical force."
The three officers managed to disarm the man, but in the melee, PC Pawley was stabbed and badly injured. He severed four tendons and required surgery.
But the officers managed to get Butler in handcuffs, before safely getting the family out of the building.
PC Langmead added: "It was pure chaos but I think we just ran on adrenalin at that point and you don't focus on yourself it was just a case of just coming into shock after when you come outside and get out of the situation."
Since the incident, Butler has been sentenced to life in prison, and must serve at least 19 years.
Zoë Wakefield, Hampshire Police Federation chair, said: “All the officers’ ability in managing a high-pressured, control and restraint situation with an armed and dangerous individual, to then turning to a victim-focused care and support mindset, for the mother and children on the scene, and for their colleagues too, demonstrated their great skill and significant empathy.
“The combined quick thinking and actions of all officers involved, led by PCs Pawley and Davies, undoubtedly saved lives and saved property, and what could have had a horrific ending resulted in three saved lives and a disturbed and dangerous individual in handcuffs.”
Chief Constable Scott Chilton, Hampshire Constabulary, said: “There is no question the brave actions of PC Davies, PC Pawley and PC Langmead that day saved lives and I am so proud their courage is being recognised nationally.
“Despite being confronted with such a dangerous situation, these officers did not hesitate to put themselves in harm’s way, knowing the lives of a mother and her young children were relying on their swift and decisive action.
“PC Pawley showed immense strength to carry on despite being stabbed, going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure no one else was harmed.
“Every day our officers find themselves first at a scene and if they don’t act fast and with complete professionalism, lives would be lost, and this is a clear example of that.
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