Sgt Charlie Thompson of Warwickshire Police prevented a catastrophic fire at a petrol station in Stratford-upon-Avon by tackling a man who had doused himself in petrol and was threatening to ignite himself. The officer's quick actions earned him a nomination for the Police Federation National Police Bravery Awards 2026.
Incident at the Petrol Station
The incident unfolded when Sgt Thompson spotted a man pouring petrol over himself and holding a lighter at a forecourt in Stratford. The man demanded that other individuals, including the mayor, be brought to the scene. Despite attempts by Sgt Thompson and a negotiation team to de-escalate the situation, the man remained resolute.
Seizing a moment of distraction, Sgt Thompson rushed forward and tackled the man to the ground. Other officers quickly moved in to remove the lighter, and a firefighter sprayed the man with foam to neutralize any risk of ignition. Police emphasized that a petrol station explosion could have been disastrous, referencing a 2023 Rome petrol station fire that injured 29 people.
Bravery Award Nomination
Acting Chief Constable David Gardner praised Sgt Thompson's actions: "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 humbly credited his team: "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."
Aftermath and Support
The man who was tackled received support and was rehoused following the incident. Sgt Thompson expressed hope for his well-being: "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."
