PC pondered hitting Bayoh with his van

The inquiry into the death of Sheku Bayoh has heard one of the first police officers on the scene considered hitting Mr Bayoh with his van.

PC Craig Walker said the “overt” nature of the incident and the proximity to a psychiatric unit left him concerned that Mr Bayoh was a risk to the public.

He denied Mr Bayoh’s race had influenced his thought process.

PC Walker and partner PC Alan Paton were diverted to Hayfield Road from a routine call in the area of Nicol Street, around two miles away, and arrived at 7.20am.

En route, PC Walker discussed using the vehicle to strike Mr Bayoh.

Asked by Angela Graham QC if this is something officers are taught, he said: “If there’s an immediate risk to life then basically anything to preserve life is possible.

“It was just another one of the options I considered on the route up.

“Given the nature of the call – the large knife, the fact it was passed down that he was chasing people.”

Earlier in the session PC Walker said he had considered whether the suspect was attempting to draw police to the area.

He said: “At the time the terror threat to the police was severe and that an attack on the police was highly likely.

“We had to bear in mind that there was intelligence that some person or group of people were looking to cause harm to police.”

Asked if he would have had the same concerns if the person had been white, he said: “Yes. The threat was for an attack on the police.”

He said waiting and assessing the situation would have been “a dangerous game to play”.

He said: “I don’t see what the advantage would have been to that.

“Just because he wasn’t doing anything there, I don’t think it would have reflected too well on the police if we’d parked up and watched him and someone came out of their house and he attacked that person while we were parked up and watching that happen.

“Ultimately, it was reported that he was in possession of a knife and chasing after people, so he needs to be brought under control.”

PC Walker said PC Paton attempted to engage with Mr Bayoh, but he continued to walk towards him.

PC Paton then used his CS spray but the wind blew it into his own face.

While his colleague was incapacitated, PC Walker called out to Mr Bayoh, who then turned towards him.

He said: “I told him to stay there, drop any weapons. He just kept walking straight towards me. We had numerous credible witnesses stating he was in possession of a knife, a big knife.

“He was closing the gap on me rapidly, so the spray was deployed.”

The inquiry, before Lord Bracadale, continues.

RISKS: PC Craig Walker told an inquiry he thought of striking Mr Bayoh with his vehicle.