TWO POLICE officers who disarmed a violent, knife-wielding youth have been commended for bravery.

Cowes-based PC Mark O'Sullivan, and PC Simon Morgan, who is stationed at Ryde, received their commendations from Hampshire Chief Constable Paul Kernaghan.

The award follows a 999 incident in 2002 when both officers were called to a house in East Cowes where a teenage son had held a carving knife to his mother's throat. The youth then ran upstairs threatening to injure two young children.

Though there was only one stab-proof vest between the pair, they made the decision to press ahead and confront the youth rather than wait for back up.

Wearing the protective vest, PC Morgan led the way in total darkness to the landing and after checking each room, found the boy barricaded in the bathroom.

The officers could hear the enraged boy stabbing the floor with two knives and working himself up into a rage.

They both burst into the bathroom, seized him by an arm and disarmed him.

PC O'Sullivan said: "He started to struggle then, but we got him out of the house and back to the station where he was picked up the next morning by social services."

The youth never stood trial as he was judged to be mentally unfit.

The commendation was the third such recognition for 47-year-old PC O'Sullivan, who has spent most his career on the Island. He has also received two superintendent's congratulations.

PC O'Sullivan said he didn't go out each day expecting to get involved in violent incidents.

He said: "You expect it to happen to someone else. But it's part of the job and as time goes by people are becoming more and more frustrated and turning more to violent solutions."

For Island born PC Morgan, 28, who joined the police service in 1996 as a PC in Kent, it was his first commendation.

He said: "It's nice to receive thanks for doing your job but it was totally unexpected.

"I was quite shocked actually. I didn't think it was anything different from what I'm supposed to do as a police officer," he added.

Chief Insp Paul Clark said: "PC O'Sullivan and PC Morgan demonstrated exceptional bravery and speed of action in resolving what was potentially a very dangerous situation.

"Not only did they risk harm to themselves but also prevented the lad possibly badly injuring himself.

"This sort of brave response is typical of my officers and the Isle of Wight public should be proud of them."