Police officer stabbed in the head with machete in Leyton

Police officer stabbed in the head with machete in Leyton
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/police-officer-stabbed-with-machete-gz8xl6l7g
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Attacks on police officers are increasing because criminals are no longer scared of the police, it was claimed yesterday after a constable was stabbed repeatedly with a machete.

The 28-year-old officer was seriously ill in hospital last night with head injuries after a routine vehicle stop in the early hours of yesterday. He had pulled over a van driver suspected of having no insurance, Scotland Yard said. Despite being stabbed he used his Taser to incapacitate his attacker before the man was arrested.

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Tucker, head of the injured officer’s unit, said that the attack was a “symptom of people having less fear of the police”. He said: “It’s shocking, but unfortunately it’s not uncommon. I’ve been in police for a long time — there’s certainly a sense of a lack of respect, not just for police but for authority.”

The number of assaults on constables rose 18 per cent to nearly 31,000 in the year to March. There has been growing frustration among police at a perceived lack of support from the government and their inability to match the public’s expectations of a traditional, neighbourhood-based force.

Funding has been cut by 19 per cent in real terms since 2010 and forces in England and Wales have lost 20,564 officers. Dave Thompson, chief constable of the West Midlands, warned recently that “policing is at the tipping point” and that the “public’s experience is policing that is less visible, less responsive and less proactive”.

Boris Johnson, who expressed his sympathies to the officer, has pledged to boost police numbers by 20,000. The Police Federation said last night that every frontline officer should have a Taser if they wanted one. The federation said it was an effective means of dealing with dangerous situations.

The police officer girlfriend of the constable who was attacked was among those sent to help him, unaware that he was the victim.

The woman, in her 20s, arrived at the street in Leyton, east London, to be informed that the wounded man was her boyfriend. He had been cut about the head and hands and was bleeding from his injuries as he bent over in the road. His girlfriend later said on social media that she was heartbroken and that her world had fallen apart.

Muhammad Faisal, 31, a witness, said: “We saw someone lying on the road. Next to him was his police uniform. They were providing him assistance to his head. We didn’t see the wound, but we saw a lot of blood.”

Last night Muhammed Rodwan, 56, from Luton, Bedfordshire, was charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon in connection with the attack. He is due at Thames magistrates’ court this morning.

The attack happened just after midnight yesterday when the constable had stopped a van driver on suspicion of driving without insurance. Mobile phone video shows him bent over in the road while passers-by tend his wounds. A paramedic then arrives.

The suspect can be seen twitching on the floor with the Taser cables leading to the weapon beside the officer’s hand. Another policeman is holding a machete as others search the suspect, who was arrested.

The injured officer had surgery and last night was in a “critical but stable condition”, according to Scotland Yard, but is expected to recover.

At 5am yesterday his girlfriend, who described herself as a “third-generation cop”, wrote on social media: “Heartbroken can’t even explain tonight’s events. My world fell apart. Words can’t fill the thoughts I feel. Best wishes everyone, keep safe and remember to always have your colleagues’ six [back].”

Mr Tucker visited him in hospital and said that the officers had chased the van with flashing lights and sirens for about a minute and managed to stop the van driver. “During the struggle the officer has managed to get his Taser deployed which stops the incident. It was frenzied, shocking,” he said.

“He’s got an injury to the side of the head which requires stitching, which was incurred by the machete, and significant injuries to his hand. He told me he was OK, but that’s the type of character he is — he is an amazing police officer. I’m relieved that he had the Taser and I’m relieved that it’s not a more serious attack.

“It’s shocking but, unfortunately, it’s not uncommon. This is a particularly nasty event but I would say there’s always a threat being a police officer. There’s been a spike in knife crime, not just in London.”

Mr Tucker called on members of the public who helped the officer and filmed the incident on their mobile phones to come forward.

After news of the attack broke Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, commended the constable for his “tremendous bravery” and added: “I am utterly appalled by this sickening attack on a serving Met Police officer. My thoughts are with him and his family.

“The men and women who serve in our police force in London are the best in the world, and their courage and dedication is inspiring.”

Ken Marsh, who is chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “This is horrific news. Police officers across London are out there every day at risk protecting the public and sadly, yet again, a Metropolitan Police officer has suffered a severe injury on duty. Enough is enough. Police officers should be going home at the end of their shifts. Not to hospital.”

Priti Patel, the home secretary, tweeted: “Absolutely horrified by the shocking stabbing of one of our brave police officers in Leyton overnight. His courage shows how police put their lives on the line to protect us every day. I wish the officer a full recovery and my thoughts are with him.”

Boris Johnson said: “What this underscores for me is the bravery of our police. People who actually go towards danger to keep us safe. Our sympathies are with the officer and his family.”