A Warwickshire police officer has been nominated for an award for stopping a man setting fire to himself on a Tesco forecourt.
Sgt Charlie Thompson has been nominated in the Police Federation National Police Bravery Awards 2026, for his actions at a Stratford forecourt last April when a man was demanding that other people (including the mayor) be brought to the forecourt, while covering himself in petrol and holding a lighter.
Sgt Thompson and a negotiation team attempted to talk the man down but were unsuccessful. Spotting an opportunity, Sgt Thompson managed to distract the man and rushed to tackle him to the ground. Other officers moved in and removed his lighter, while a firefighter sprayed him with foam to prevent any further risk of ignition.
The man who was tackled is understood to have received support and been rehoused since these events.
Acting chief constable David Gardner said: “We are extremely proud of Sgt Thompson who demonstrated incredible fortitude, empathy and quick thinking in his actions that day.
“It is thanks to him, and the other officers on the ground that there wasn’t a tragedy that day in Stratford-upon-Avon. He is more than worthy of the Bravery Award.”
Sgt Thompson said: “I couldn’t have done it without the team behind me – we co-ordinated, we worked together, and it was together that we stopped what could have been a terrible loss of life.
“I’m overwhelmed to have been nominated for a Bravery Award – it’s always a good day when our hard work in the police is recognised like this.
“I hope that the chap I tackled is doing better now – it will have been a very low moment for him, and we hope he’s managed to pick himself back up and get the support he needed.”
