TWO York Minster Constables are to be awarded commendations tomorrow for their bravery in two dramatic incidents at the cathedral.

Adam Rickers, responding to reports of a man on scaffolding overlooking Dean’s Park on September 12, climbed the scaffolding, checking each level until he spotted the male sitting on the edge of the Minster’s roof more than 250 feet above the ground, she said.

"Adam walked 15 feet along the roof edge and then climbed a 10 foot pinnacle to get close enough to start a conversation," she said.

"He kept the man calm and engaged in conversation for almost 30 minutes until a team from North Yorkshire Police, including a trained negotiator, climbed up to join Adam.

"After another hour of careful persuasion, the man agreed to come down from the roof. The officers assisted him down the scaffolding and he was immediately taken to hospital for assessment."

Adam said: "“Even though we take every precaution to stop people climbing onto the scaffolding, people in crisis are often the most determined in finding a way through and putting themselves in harm’s way. It was a horrible situation, at great height on a dark, windy and wet night.

"But there was someone in acute distress and it was my duty as a police officer and a responsible person to go to his aid.”

Beverley Martin pursued, restrained and detained a male suspect for violent behaviour outside the Minster on June 15 June, after he had allegedly violently assaulted two people – one of them a man in his eighties, said a Minster spokeswoman.

"She gave chase, catching up with the suspect as he confronted a group of people waiting for a taxi," she said.

"She placed the suspect in handcuffs and despite his verbal abuse and violent struggling, Bev detained him for more than 20 minutes until North Yorkshire Police arrived to take him into custody."

Bev said: “It was a dangerous situation and there was real potential for things to escalate and for more people to be hurt. But in the heat of the moment there is no time to think – the training just takes over and you focus all your efforts on bringing the situation under control and preventing further harm and risk to members of the public.”

Mark Sutcliffe, Inspector of Cathedral Police at York Minster, commended their courage and selflessness, saying: “These were challenging and dangerous circumstances requiring sensitivity and tremendous bravery.

"Both constables put themselves at enormous personal risk to protect the public and preserve life. They are a credit to York Minster and to the wider community.”

The commendations will be presented by Canon Peter Moger, Acting Dean of York, in a special ceremony in the Minster’s 13th century Chapter House tomorrow during an Attestation Ceremony for three new members of the Minster’s Police team, in which Lewis Appleby, Elizabeth Hill and Verity Winterburn will swear an oath on 1,000-year old York Gospels.