Pride of Manchester 2023: Emergency Services PC Paul Spinks

Police officer Paul Spinks was off duty last May when he spotted a man wielding a machete and making threats to members of the public near a school in Salford. With parents and children arriving on the morning school run, PC Spinks felt he had to act.
After calling in the incident, despite wearing civilian clothes and without any protective equipment, he approached the man with the machete directly.
The man was agitated and not responding positively so PC Spinks realised he needed to detain him. After making sure members of the public were at a safe distance, and at great risk to himself, he tackled the man. A struggle ensued and PC Spinks was eventually able to disarm and restrain him. The man was later convicted and jailed.