DRAMATIC bodycam footage shows a hero policeman soaked in blood after he was stabbed in the hand saving a suicidal man from knifing himself to death.

PC Ben Jeffries grabbed the knifeman by the arms when he began stabbing himself with a large kitchen blade.

17 PC Ben Jeffries bravely tackled the knifeman alone despite being stabbed in the hand

17 He grabbed the suspect's arms to stop him stabbing himself and was injured in the struggle

17 His colleagues arrived to help and handcuffed the knifeman

17 PC Jeffrries reels away in agony as his colleagues take over

17 He needed surgery after suffering a deep laceration to his left hand

17 PC Ben Jeffries has now been nominated for a National Police Bravery Award for his actions

In the struggle the cop suffered a deep laceration to the left hand but continued his efforts to restrain the knifeman until help arrived.

Video from another officer's body-worn camera emerged as PC Ben Jeffries was nominated for a National Police Bravery Award.

The footage shows him sitting astride the suspect, his hands covered in his blood.

Colleagues PC Nicky Brooks and Sgt Adrian Sharpe then take over and handcuff the knifeman before giving their injured colleague first aid.

He was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery on his hand.

The drama unfolded after he was called to a domestic incident in the Duston area of Northampton.

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PC Brooks spoke to the victim while PC Jeffries went to speak to the suspect who was sitting on a bench nearby.

When he answered his police radio the man pulled out a large kitchen knife and began stabbing himself in the chest.

Steve Pace of the Northamptonshire Police Federation said: “PC Jeffries should be commended for his selfless actions.

"He put himself at considerable personal risk and was viciously attacked, all in the line of duty when protecting others.”

The PC received a commendation from Chief Constable Simon Edens last year and has now been nominated for a National Police Bravery Award.

17 Sgt Elliott Richardson, PC Sarah Currie and PC Michael Otterson of Northumbria Police

Other tales of police heroism also emerged today as the nominations were announced.

Three Northumbria officers are honoured for tackling a crazed gunman who fired a handgun at them in a pub.

PC Michael Otterson and PC Sarah Currie went looking for the man - who has a history of violence and mental illness - after he told a nurse he was planning to attack local drug dealers.

CCTV shows the moment the two PCs challenged him in the doorway of a pub in Gateshead and he levelled the pistol directly at them.

The gun went off in the ensuing struggle - although no one was hurt - and a member of the public helped them wrestle the pistol out of his hand.

17 The officers went to confront the crazed gunman even though they knew he was dangerous and could be armed

17 The two PCs bravely tackled him in the entrance of a pub in Gateshead where he pointed a pistol at them

17 The gun went off as they tried to disarm him helped by a member of the public

17 Sgt Richardson arrives and uses his baton to restrain the raging suspect

17 The three officers involved have been put forward for a national bravery award

Sergeant Elliott Richardson, who had been dispatched to assist, then used his baton to help bring the raging suspect under control.

A search later revealed he was wearing body armour and was armed with two handguns, a crossbow, a pack of throwing knives, home-made petrol bombs, smoke grenades and a baseball bat.

Jim Gray of Northumbria Police Federation said: “This was an incredibly dangerous and volatile situation, in which these brave officers thought they were fighting for their lives.

"It is sad that this man felt his best way of getting help was to threaten the police, but we are lucky to have officers who fought so hard to ensure not only the safety of the public, but their own.”

17 Sergeants David Wilson and Iain McIvor are nominated for a Police Bravery Award Credit: BPM Media

Off-duty Lincolnshire sergeants David Wilson and Iain McIvor are also nominated for trying to foil and armed robbery on a jewellers while on a night out in Newark, Notts.

CCTV shows them running to the door where they were met by masked thug John Daly pointing what appeared to be a pump-action shotgun in their faces and yelling: “Get back, or I will shoot you.”

The cops were forced back into the street as Daly ran out followed by three other masked men, two of them wielding lump hammers.

Sgt McIvor bravely grabbed Daly in a bear hug and began wrestling with him to get the firearm - which later turned out to be fake.

The sergeant was then dragged 20 yards by the gang's getaway car before being thrown out.

17 CCTV shows off-duty sergeants David Wilson and Iain McIvor confronting a gang of armed robbers at a jewellers

17 The masked thugs wielded hammers and what appeared to be a pump-action shotgun

17 The officers rushed to help during a night out in Newark, Notts

17 They bravely tackled the robbers and their evidence later put the gang behind bars

The officers' accounts led to the robbers being jailed for a total of more than 80 years.

Jon Hassall of Lincolnshire Police Federation said: “These two officers, who were off duty, and had zero protective equipment, made the heroic decision to act in the face of incredible danger.

“This is an incredible example of bravery in the finest tradition of the British police service.”

They are among 71 officers nominated for the Police Bravery Awards, now in its 22nd year and hosted by the the Police Federation of England and Wales.

Stephen Mann, CEO of awards sponsor Police Mutual said: “I am always astounded by police officers’ acts of bravery and my colleagues and I continue to be inspired by their dedication.

"They are a true inspiration and I feel privileged and humbled to be part of the Awards again.”

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