Support officer stabbed in neck

**Standard Dave** · 12-04-06, 11:43 AM

A police community support officer has been stabbed in the neck and is in a serious condition in a Greater Manchester hospital.
The officer had been helping a housing organisation with an eviction on Elizabeth Avenue in Stalybridge when he was stabbed at about 1030 GMT.

The PCSO has been taken to Tameside General Hospital and his condition is described as very serious.

A 63-year-old man from Stalybridge has been arrested on suspicion of wounding.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...er/6207230.stm

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/...242909,00.html

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Just to explain to those not from the UK a Police community support officer is a none sworn full time uniformed police staff member.

Their primary role is supposed to be hi visibilty patrol for crime prevention and reasurance. Some also have powers to issue tickets for low level traffic and criminal offences.

**Willowdared** · 12-04-06, 11:47 AM

Prayers enroute for a speedy recovery.

**bird1** · 12-04-06, 11:48 AM

prayers go out

**BigDawg** · 12-04-06, 12:21 PM

Prayers to the Officer, his family and the Dept.

**gozling** · 12-04-06, 12:33 PM

my thoughts are with him

**Standard Dave** · 12-04-06, 12:52 PM

Support officer stabbed in neck
A police community support officer is in a critical condition in hospital after being stabbed in the neck during an attack in Greater Manchester.
The officer had been helping a housing organisation with an eviction on Elizabeth Avenue in Stalybridge when he was stabbed at about 1030 GMT.

The PCSO was taken to Tameside General Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery on his injuries.

A 63-year-old man from Stalybridge has been arrested on suspicion of wounding.

No body armour

Greater Manchester Police have confirmed that the PCSO was attacked with a knife while overseeing bailiffs carry out the eviction of at least one person from a property.

He was not wearing a stab-proof vest or body-armour at the time of the attack.

A police spokeswoman said: "The officer has just got out of surgery and is in a critical condition."

GMP has yet to confirm whether any other officers were at the scene at the time of the stabbing or for how long the man had been a PCSO.

Police could not confirm the age of the stab victim and said details of the incident were still being established.

A spokeswoman added the man had been stabbed in the neck with a knife while overseeing bailiffs carrying out the eviction of at least one person from a property.

His family are understood to have been informed of the incident.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...er/6207230.stm

While the media are keen to point out he was not wearing body armour he was stabbed in the neck so it wouldn't have been likely to make a difference.

**Trojan 42** · 12-04-06, 02:42 PM

Well if he has any sense, now is the time to sue, saying he was not provided with a suitable level of equipment and training, commensurate with his job requirements!

**Pedro56** · 12-04-06, 03:16 PM

Thoughts and prayers go out to him.

**Motorwaycop** · 12-04-06, 04:23 PM

This is a sad reality of policing on the cheap.

It is no reflection on the PCSO, simply an incident that has been waiting to happen.

Our American friends may not realise but a PCSO has little training, carries no protective equipment and is only supposed to be a contact point and visible presence to reassure the community.

Unfortunately we do not live in a climate of good will,respect for authority and tolerance. This is our goverment trying to paper over problems by policing on the cheap.

**Trojan 42** · 12-05-06, 03:43 AM

I don't think a PCSO should have been the one standing by with Baliffs, not in the job description.

**Lo523** · 12-05-06, 05:19 AM

Originally Posted by Motorwaycop

This is a sad reality of policing on the cheap.

It is no reflection on the PCSO, simply an incident that has been waiting to happen.

Our American friends may not realise but a PCSO has little training, carries no protective equipment and is only supposed to be a contact point and visible presence to reassure the community.

Unfortunately we do not live in a climate of good will,respect for authority and tolerance. This is our goverment trying to paper over problems by policing on the cheap.

+1. This was another of the Government's not very well thought out ideas. Their training, powers and protection are negligible, yet their uniform is very similar to that of a Police Officers, which in my opinion is great for attracting "wannabe's". However when the "red mist" comes down, all offender's see is a target.

Again this is no reflection on this PCSO, and my thoughts are with him and his family.

**Standard Dave** · 12-05-06, 05:44 AM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/m...er/6208810.stm

A further update on the story.

As the other Brits have said PCSOs are somewhat limited in their training and equipment a problem with the system that has put an increased number of sworn constables behind desks while civilians pull on a uniform and patrol the streets with little training and equipment.

This problem on the whole has been caused by politians who have no police or military background and are quite often lawyers or career politians (need I say anymore).