It’s unreal to get such a prestigious award... we just did our job
The M.E.N. Pride of Manchester Awards, in partnership with TSB, will premiere on YouTube on Tuesday, May 17, at 7pm
GREATER Manchester Police officers Pc Simon Toft and Pc Alicia Snowden were presented with the Emergency Services award for their bravery in the face of a truly terrifying situation by Corrie stars Shelley King, Sair Khan, and Julia Goulding.
The pair were first on scene at a medical centre in Stockport where Michael Brannigan was armed with three kitchen knives and a meat cleaver and threatening to stab staff and patients.
Working as a team, they managed to apprehend Brannigan, who has since been jailed for three years.
“It’s unreal,” Pc Toft said. “To get such a prestigious award, you literally can’t put it into words.”
Both of them said that in the moment, their training kicked in and they were completely focused on apprehending Brannigan. It was only after they’d safely tackled him that they realised the enormity of what they had done.
“I went out to the van to get some evidence bags, and I realised my legs were shaking,” Pc Snowden said.
“It’s the aftermath, when things have calmed down, that you’ll never forget.”
Julia described presenting the award as ‘an absolute honour,’ calling Toft and Snowden ‘true heroes.’
“On screen we would do all kinds of stuff and you’ve always got the police and Pc Tinker on the case,” she laughed.
“But honestly, these guys are true heroes, people that are actually putting their lives on the line every time they go to work.
“The worst thing that could happen to me is that I trip on the cobbles!”
Pcs Toft and Snowden have been rightly showered with praise and awards since the incident, including being nominated for the Police Federation award for bravery, where they won the regional prize.
But they said winning at the Pride of Manchester was special, with other emergency workers outside of the police also nominated.
Ultimately, though, the pair wanted to highlight that their job is to serve the people of Greater Manchester.
“We just did our job,” Pc Snowden said. “The most important thing is that he was apprehended and nobody was hurt!”