Posted on 07/03/2007 6:53:18 PM PDT by DancesWithCats
Policeman stabbed in random London attack
By Martina Smit Last Updated: 3:25pm BST 03/07/2007
A community police officer has been stabbed in an apparently motiveless attack as he sat in a stationary van in central London .
The police community support officer (PCSO), who is in his 30s, suffered slash injuries to his arms as he tried to fend off the attacker from his vehicle.
An eyewitness described how the knifeman walked up to the police van in Victoria Street, near Victoria railway station, and lunged at the driver through the window just before 10am today.
"I saw a white man in his 20s walking down Victoria Street as if he was crossing the road," said Tracey Harmer, an assistant manager at a store in Victoria Street.
"He got to the middle and then started walking down the centre line following a police van.
"The van was stationary in traffic and he caught up with the driver's side window. He put his arm up and the next minute he looked like he was punching the driver, but it turned out he was stabbing him.
"I shouted out, 'Oh my God, the policeman's getting attacked'. We looked out and then the man was running off towards the cathedral with a policeman chasing him."
Within minutes dozens of officers arrived at the scene, which is a short walk from the headquarters of Scotland Yard.
Police say they believe they know the identity of the attacker and a massive operation - including sniffer dogs - is underway in the area of Victoria Station to trace him.
Receptionist Renuka Singh, 24, who works in the building next to the bank, said she saw a man in uniform lying on the pavement with a head wound.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
He did not appear to be wearing a stab vest, she added.
Unison, the public service union, has called for all PCSOs to be given stab vests.Ben Priestley, Unison's national officer with responsibility for PCSOs, said: "This incident shows that the work of PCSOs can be dangerous and reinforces the need for all forces in England and Wales to provide their PCSOs with protective equipment, including stab vests."
I hadn't ever heard of a 'stab vest'! Not that it would have helped at all anyway, having been stabbed on the arm, and in the head. That poor young man. I hope they catch the perp and soon. And when they do catch him, a judge who will give him a special free 'never get out of jail' card!
"did you bring the gun?"
"No, I don't have one; do you?"
"Not since 95. Hey, Basil, do you have a gun? "
"Not me, mate, not since they fired Nigel for hiding one."
"OH NO, here comes a yute with a knife!!!"
"run away, run awaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay"
LOL LOL This is true. This is so true. I read they were thinking of changing back to carrying guns again. Don’t know how Gordon Brown feels about this.
Thing two: the odds are overwhelmingly in favor of the cutter in that situation...gun near useless...especially sitting in a car...can't get you elbow back to withraw it.
Islamism until demonstrated otherwise.
You're right. I've read that those skilled in the use of knives are successful in killing their victims about 80% of the time. One can bleed out in a matter of minutes.
From the article:
"I saw a white man in his 20s walking down Victoria Street as if he was crossing the road," said Tracey Harmer, an assistant manager at a store in Victoria Street.
Policeman stabbed in random London attack
A community police officer has been stabbed in an apparently motiveless attack
Random and motiveless attack on a cop.
Sure thing.People randomly and motivelessly(new word for Wiki) attack cops all the time.
Stab vest doesn’t help too much when they stab you in the head. Roll up the windows.
Give them guns.
Edge weapons are pretty scary. It the hands of somebody with knowledge, they're more lethal within 23' than a firearm...statistically speaking. That's the kill zone, inside of which I was trained to shoot.
A bunch of trainers (prolly at NWU) got together and did some studies....the upshot of which was to determine relative lethality of firearm v. edge..and to provide defense of LEO's who perforated edge attackers inside the zone. Had to have compelling evidence to show juries.
24 feet is as close as you let them advance...then aim and fire. Inside that circle...advantage evaporates. The training films were eye-opening.
You bet! I was trained the same. And it kills my soul whenever some misunderstanding, sympathizing whoopsie-daisy cries and moans for the poor fella who 'only had a knife!' and the cop 'shot and killed the poor fella!' ... and then they go into that whole whine about 'why didn't he fire a warning shot? or shoot him in a nonlethal area?'
Maybe 'cause the cop wanted to LIVE that day? Same thing with people that pull a toy gun on a cop 'cause they're mental or a child with an attitude-adjustment need. NOT taking any chances. If you're told drop it, better do so if you want to go home and enjoy your dinner that night.
Yep, I’ve read of how fast a trained and fleet-footed knife attacker can be on you. Just a couple seconds within that 24 ft radius. Scary, indeed. That’s why when I am in my living room there’s a handgun within a foot of my hands.
To be fair, I never figured that a knife had an advantage...period! That bit of training was among the most worthwhile I ever got. Woke me right t.f. up.
“I read they were thinking of changing back to carrying guns again.”
About 10% of the met police is armed anyway. I don’t think there is widespread support either amongst police officers or the public for all officers to be armed. Wouldn’t have made any difference in this case anyway as this guy was a PCSO not a Police Officer. PCSOs are basically civilians with no power of arrest, they just do foot patrols and provide a visible prescence.
Oh! Like our posse maybe? I was a reserve sheriff's deputy for a time and we had powers of arrest and carried a gun and all just like the full time cops. So I was wondering what a PCSO was. Sounds like our equivalent of the Guardian Angels. Still in all, I hope they catch the bum.
Islamism until demonstrated otherwise.
Not exactly like Guardian Angels (as I understand it they are a privately run group seperate from the police).
PCSOs work for the police and wear police uniform (though it identifies them as a community support officer). Essentially the idea is to fulfill a public desire for a visible police presence in a more efficient way than could be accomplished using just full officers. They can issue penalty fines and have the power to detain people for a short period of time (30 minutes), but they cannot formally arrest people themselves.
I think a reserve sherrif’s deputy may be more analagous to a ‘special constable’ in the UK police. Unlike PCSOs, these are full police officers with all the usual powers, but not full time, they undertake police duties on a part time basis in addition to having full time jobs.
It's called the Tueller Drill . It was part of my training too. Have a (practice cap) gun in your holster and have a friend with a (rubber) knife start to charge you from closer than 24 feet. He will generally connect with the knife before you have a chance to draw and fire
The counter is to be alert at all times, particularly of people who seem to take an undue interest in you
My martial arts instructor told me many times, that the main use of unarmed martial arts is to enable you to survive the first few seconds of an attack, and allow you to create the time and distance you need to get to your weapon
My instructor also demonstrated to me over and over that if you allow a trained person to get within arms reach of you, you will not have a chance to shoot him. Disarming drills and weapons retention practice are very valuable
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