TWO police officers who confronted and disarmed a man waving a samurai sword at them – and later a handgun – have been named the North-East winners of the national Police Bravery Awards.

PC Keith Palmer – who died when protecting members of the public in the Westminster terror attacks – was posthumously named joint overall winner at this evening's ceremony in London.

In February 2016, PC Gary Sharpe and PC Vicki Threadgold, of Northumbria Police, were called out to a domestic violence incident in the Springwell area of Gateshead where a woman had been assaulted.

PC Threadgold removed the female victim from danger who was very emotional and vulnerable at the time.

Both officers were then confronted by her drunk and aggressive partner who was threatening them from behind a child safety gate at the top of the stairs.

The offender – who was known to have a history of violence – encouraged his two Staffordshire bull terriers and a German shepherd to attack the officers.

He then brandished a large Samurai sword but PC Sharpe was able to stay calm and eventually persuaded him to put down.

The man dropped the weapon but suddenly produced what appeared to be a black metal handgun which he pointed at PC Sharpe’s face.

With quick thinking, PC Sharpe was able to pull his CS spray before he successfully disarmed and restrained the violent man while PC Threadgold came to his aid.

The offender was eventually jailed for a year after being convicted of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence in June of last year.

This evening they were named were named regional winners at the Police Bravery Awards hosted by Police Federation in London.

PC Sharpe said: “I am ecstatic that me and Vicki won the award tonight. We were just doing our job at the end of the day – and it was an honour to even just be nominated.

"When you’re dealing with something like that, the adrenaline does kick in. But I know that the incredible people I work with would have done the same thing if they were in my shoes.”

PC Threadgold added: “I can’t believe we were the winners tonight. I am proud knowing that we were able to get the woman out of a very dangerous situation before things escalated any further.”

Northumbria Police Chief Constable, Winton Keenen, said: “I am incredibly proud of our winning PCs, Gary and Vicki, who showed tremendous courage when dealing with such a dangerous and unpredictable incident.

“I’d like to congratulate them both – they’re a credit to our Force and thoroughly deserved to be recognised for their outstanding police work.”

PC Keith Palmer, who was killed in the Westminster terror attack, was posthumously named the overall winner, jointly with PC Charlie Guenigault – of the Metropolitan Police.

PC Palmer, whose award was accepted by friend and colleague PC Shaun Cartwright, was on duty at Westminster Palace when a terrorist drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, injuring and killing innocent people.

He then crashed his vehicle and ran into the terrified crowds. Petrified members of the public were running away, passing where PC Palmer was on duty.

Hearing the screaming coming from Westminster Bridge, unarmed PC Palmer immediately ran towards the noise.

He began closing the gates, intent on protecting those within Parliament. But as he was doing his job he was set upon by the terrorist and attacked with a knife.

Tragically PC Palmer died of his injuries. His brave actions gave armed police critical time to react, potentially saving countless lives.

PC Guenigault was on his way home from relaxing with friends after finishing his shift, when three knife-wielding terrorists attacked the public at London Bridge.

Unarmed PC Guenigault was determined to protect the innocent people around him and ran towards the terrorists, fighting them with his bare hands. The terrorists stabbed him repeatedly, leaving him in a critical condition.

Calum Macleod, Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “These awards are a chance to showcase the exceptional bravery that officers protecting our country show day in, day out. The heroic deeds we have heard about today did not happen by accident; they were borne of dedication, selflessness and an overwhelming commitment to keeping the public safe.

“Today we commemorate true heroes. PC Keith Palmer GM paid the ultimate sacrifice for his bravery, but thanks to him many, many more deaths were prevented that day. For PC Charlie Guenigault, there was no such thing as ‘off duty’. He ran towards a situation that most of us can’t even imagine, putting himself in grave danger and thinking only of helping others.

“As Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, I am immensely proud to have shared this day with such well deserving nominees and winners. Congratulations to you all.”

Stephen Mann, CEO of Police Mutual, said: “Over the last 10 years, Police Mutual has been proud to have sponsored such an inspirational event in the policing calendar and for my colleagues and I to be able to show our respect for the exceptional courage shown by police officers who risk their lives every day to protect the public and keep us safe.”

The eight regional winners for this year are as follows:

Region 1 (North West) Greater Manchester Police:

PC Mohammed Nadeem jumped 8ft into a fast flowing, icy river to save a man.

Region 2 (North East) Northumbria:

PCs Gary Sharpe and Victoria Threadgold confronted and disarmed a man waving a 4ft samurai sword at them and later a handgun.

Region 3 (Midlands) West Mercia:

PC Kimberley Morris gave vital first aid to a stabbing victim, while keeping the suspected attacker talking and in view while back up arrived.

Region 4 (Eastern) Norfolk:

A man came at lone officer PC Frances Peters with a sword in each hand. Using her Pava spray and personal safety skills she restrained and handcuffed him until other officers arrived.

Region 5 (South East) Thames Valley:

Off duty officer Sergeant Mark Allmond and PC Alex Quigley followed and detained a man who had killed a stranger in Poundland. The man was walking the streets still clutching the knife and making threats when the officers intervened.

Region 6 (South West) Wiltshire:

Inspector Ian Stevenson pulled a vulnerable woman off a railway track just as a train was approaching. The train missed them by a couple of feet in a scene his colleague described as “like something out of a movie”.

Region 7 (Wales) North Wales:

PCs David Hall and Rhys Rushby were attacked by a wanted murder suspect with a claw hammer. The offender was biting and punching, screaming that he had a gun and was going to kill - before thrusting an unknown object underneath PC Rushby’s throat. The object was a nine inch kitchen knife.

Region 8 (London) PC Keith Palmer GM and PC Charlie Guenigault:

PC Palmer paid the ultimate sacrifice after he was tragically killed in the Westminster terror attack last year. PC Charlie Guenigault was on his way home from relaxing with friends after finishing his shift when three knife-wielding terrorists attacked the public at London Bride. Unarmed PC Guenigault was determined to protect the innocent people around him and ran towards the terrorists, fighting them with his bare hands. The terrorists stabbed him repeatedly, leaving him in a critical condition.