Page 5 - BedFed Dec2018 Flipbook

Bedfordshire PC featured in assaults campaign
PC Jack Denton had to have a brain scan and his head stapled back together after being hit with a blunt object.
Bedfordshire officer Jack, who suffered the injuries as he attempted to help arrest a suspected car thief, was featured as a case study by the Police Federation of England and Wales as part of its Protect the Protectors campaign.
“It was done with a staple gun and that was the most painful bit,” he said. “I had them removed by a GP a week later, but there will be scarring.”
The incident happened in early 2017 when the suspect had been handcuffed and
handed over to Jack and his colleagues to take into custody.
However, the man suddenly bolted and ran to his home where, with his arms still behind his back, he attempted to kick the front door open.
Jack caught up with the suspect before he was struck and collapsed to the floor.
“I got my spray out,” he said. “Then there was a massive thud and my head started bleeding. My legs went weak and I ended up on the floor.”
Colleagues arrested the suspect and his mother, who had appeared at an upstairs window.
They found that Jack had been wounded by a candlestick which had fallen or been thrown from above.
The suspect’s mother argued it was accidental and the GBH charges against her were dropped.
Jack was taken to hospital for a brain scan and had his head stapled back together.
“This has shaken me a lot and highlighted the dangers. It’s made me more cautious, but I’ve had great support from the police and the Federation.”
5
and bite guards and the appropriate levels of staffing.”
The Federation’s Protect the Protectors campaign was launched at Parliament in February 2017 in connection with a Ten Minute Rule Bill introduced by Halifax MP Holly Lynch.
She had joined PC Craig Gallant on patrol in West Yorkshire in summer 2016 and dialled 999 after witnessing the single-crewed officer being surrounded by a hostile crowd.
The General Election brought the bill to a premature end but Labour MP for Rhondda, Chris Bryant, then introduced his Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Private Members’ Bill which received cross-party support to become law.
Mr Bryant said: “The growing tide of attacks on emergency workers – including ambulance workers, NHS staff, fire officers, prison officers and police – is a national scandal.
“All too often attackers get away with little more than a slap on the wrist. I hope this new law will help put a stop to that attitude. An attack on an emergency worker is an attack on all of us and attackers should face the full force of the law.”
The Federation’s Protect the Protectors campaign benefited from the backing of the Prisoner Officers’ Association and British Transport Police Federation as partners.