York police officer who singlehandedly tackled knifeman receives award

This was the dramatic moment when a brave police officer tackled a knifeman in York city centre.

And his courage has won PC Richard Farrar a top policing honour.

PC Farrar won the Public Choice Award at the third North Yorkshire Police Annual Awards event.

Winners, their families and senior officers attended the event which celebrates the achievements of officers and staff who embody the force’s values of courage, compassion and inspiration.

Large kitchen knife

[arve url=”https://youtu.be/PQYH1EUNpu8″ title=”City of York Council footage of knife crime arrest” /]

PC Farrar’s heroics took place at about 10.50pm on September 26 2016.

He confronted a cyclist who had been acting suspiciously in York city centre. The man, who was defying a court-imposed curfew, tried to escape but the officer wrestled him to the ground – revealing a large kitchen knife that had been hidden in the perpetrator’s waistband.

PC Farrar was assisted in his arrest by a member of the public, Andy Haigh. The assailant was later jailed for two years.

The dramatic moment was caught on City of York Council CCTV cameras, and later shown on the BBC 1 police reality show Caught Red Handed.

Dedicated award to colleague

PC Farrar said he was humbled and proud to be the public choice winner, and thanked everyone for their support. He said:

I accepted the award in memory of my friend and colleague Nina Mackay from the Metropolitan Police, who was fatally stabbed in her course of duty 20 years ago almost to the day.

This incident is a reminder of the risks that myself and police officers face in serving and protecting the public every day here in York, across the county and the country.

Julia Mulligan, Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, said: “It was an honour to be able to reveal PC Richard Farrar as the winner of the Public Choice Award, and what a deserved winner he is.

“He put himself in danger to protect the public from a repeat offender which resulted in a prison sentence.

“Given how outstanding the finalists were, this is a real accomplishment.”

Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police Dave Jones said the force operated in challenging times.

“These awards are a chance to remind ourselves of the remarkable dedication and sense of duty that is shown by those who work and volunteer for North Yorkshire Police.”