FOUR Braintree officers who “demonstrated the best of British policing” have been commended for saving the life of a man who was slashed in the neck with a razor.

PCs Courtney Bailey, Dean Bell, Jess Croney and Danny Crouchman were commended for their “bravery, professionalism and quick-thinking” after the incident in Braintree town centre on September 9 last year.

When they arrived in Market Square within three minutes of the incident being reported, they found the man was suffering a "catastrophic" bleed.

PC Croney immediately began first aid treatment to stem the bleed, putting as much pressure as she could on the wound, while PC Crouchman reassured the victim, keeping him conscious and upright.

PC Bailey called an ambulance, before joining her two colleagues in providing first aid and helping to keep the victim calm.

PC Bell initially went after the suspect but when he saw the man had been arrested by a colleague, he directed other officers who had arrived to where scenes needed to be guarded, including the location of the weapon.

He also took witness details and made CCTV enquiries.

PC Bell has previously served with the Royal Anglian Regiment and spent two tours of duty in Afghanistan, so took over the first aid treatment.

After the ambulance crew stabilised the victim enough to be placed in the ambulance, PCs Croney and Crouchman accompanied him to Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford, supporting the ambulance crew.

The officers arranged for a specialist vascular surgeon to be blue-lighted from Basildon and remained at the hospital until the victim came out of surgery the following morning, assisting where they could and securing vital evidence to assist in the future prosecution.

PC Bell had followed them independently and was able to reassure the victim’s family when they arrived at the hospital.

Following the incident, Geoffrey Ryan was found guilty at Chelmsford Crown Court of attempted murder and racially-aggravated harassment.

He was jailed for 28 years.

Essex Police Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: “The brave actions of these officers on that night were truly extraordinary.

"Officers are trained for a whole range of scenarios, but this was an extremely challenging situation.

“But they demonstrated the best of British policing by stepping straight in and dealing professionally and calmly with what they were confronted with – a man suffering a catastrophic bleed after having his neck slashed by a man with a razor.

“I have no doubt that had they not, the victim would not have survived, and we would have been investigating a murder.

“I am so proud of them and all their colleagues on the local policing team, who pulled together and secured vital evidence and witness statements which ensured success at court and a substantial sentence of 28 years for the assailant.

“Thankfully, incidents such as this one are rare in Essex but, when they do happen, we will not rest until we have put the perpetrators before the courts to answer for their crimes.”