Off-duty officer knifed on doorstep

AN OFF-DUTY policeman who was stabbed three times on his doorstep is in a serious condition in hospital.

The officer, who was answering a knock at the door, suffered wounds to his stomach, chest and arm in the attack at his £410,000 semidetached home in Rayleigh, Essex, on Wednesday night.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and is in custody. A witness, who did not want to be named, said: ‘A person knocked on the door and stabbed an off-duty police officer three times in the chest.’

Essex Police refused to confirm the victim was an officer, but the county’s police federation, which represents rank-and-file police, confirmed he was a colleague.

Locals complained knife crime is rife in the area, with one saying they armed themselves at night for protection. The resident, who has lived on the same road where the attack took place for 40 years, said: ‘It doesn’t surprise me. I sleep with a baseball bat by my bed because you don’t know what can happen these days.’

Another woman said: ‘There is an awful lot of knife crime going on now, especially between youngsters.’

Essex Police said: ‘At this time detectives believe the incident was targeted and isolated and there is no wider risk to the local community.’