Officers from Norfolk were nominated for a Police Bravery Award after dealing with a vulnerable man in crisis who was threatening to set himself and others on fire. 

PC Luchia Blyth and PC Natalie Smith, Sgt Matthew Bloomfield and an inspector were nominated for their roles in the incident which involved a man suffering from severe psychosis. 

The man, who had been detained in Great Yarmouth's Northgate Hospital under the Mental Health Act, had absconded after jumping from the roof of the hospital. 

First at the scene, PC Blyth and PC Smith found the patient on one of the building's fire escape ladders dousing himself with a can of petrol and holding a lighter.

READ MORE: Stolen mobility scooter leaves disabled man 'distraught' and housebound

The officers established a cordon and made negotiation attempts while the man dangled from the ladder, threatening to set himself alight.

He then climbed down the ladder, threatening PC Blyth and PC Smith that he would also set them alight if they followed him and went towards the hospital exit.

A containment was set up and officers continued to negotiate while tactical plans were put into place to mitigate the risk to the public, officers and the patient.

The man, who was still threatening to set himself alight, then began to run towards a busy shopping area.

At great personal risk, another officer grabbed the offender’s hand in which the lighter was held and sprayed the man with PAVA to subdue him. 

READ MORE: Police figures show only one charge made in 80 rape reports

The trio of officers managed to seize the lighter and remove the man's fuel-soaked clothes.

He was taken to hospital by ambulance and placed in a more secure facility.

Norfolk Police Federation Chair Andy Symonds said of the officers' actions in December 2022: “My colleagues are exactly what police officers are all about.

“They put themselves in harm’s way over a prolonged period so that no innocent member of the public was injured.

"But the reality was it meant they were placing themselves in direct danger of being seriously harmed.

"However due to these officers’ bravery, skill, and professionalism, they brought this incident to a safe conclusion."

The bravery awards were held in London last Thursday with the Norfolk officers coming runner-up.