Have the guts to intervene, urges heroine who saved officer’s life
Grandmother who stopped policeman being kicked to death urges public to aid officers when under attack
A GRANDMOTHER who risked her life to stop a policeman being kicked to death has urged the public to intervene when they see officers in trouble, saying “we are all in this together”.
Debbie Briggs, 55, who is 5ft 2in tall, received a national bravery award after leaping from her car to prevent an armed assault on an officer in Blackpool, Lancs.
She said the police put their lives on the line for the public and more people should have the guts to back them when they see them under attack. Mrs Briggs said: “They are the people we turn to when we are in trouble and they should be able to rely on us when they need us. It is just human decency.”
Earlier this week police leaders warned they might have to let criminals go if the public refused to back them in difficult situations.
It followed an incident in south London in which members of the public filmed a female officer being attacked rather than intervening to help her.
British Transport Police (BTP) officers have also said the case of an officer stabbed outside Ilford station, in east London, on Friday night was the latest example of an “epidemic” of “senseless acts of violence” against them. The officer was fortunate that colleagues were close by to restrain his attacker, said Nigel Goodband, the BTP federation chairman. The officer’s injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.
Mrs Briggs had been on her way to a funeral with her elderly mother when she saw a stricken officer lying on the ground being kicked about the head.
Mrs Briggs, who was forced to retire from her job as a medical secretary due to ill health, explained that instinct immediately kicked in. She said: “I could see that the officer on the ground was just lying there and was not even trying to get up. The man who was attacking him had real venom in his eyes and was just kicking him in the head. I literally just stopped the car in the middle of the road, told my mum to stay where she was and jumped out.
“I ran towards the attacker and just screamed at him to leave him alone and he just stopped.”
The attacker got into his van and drove away, allowing Mrs Briggs to go to the officer’s aid. She said: “I could hear him on his radio saying ‘I’ve been stabbed’ and that really made me realise what I had just done.
“He had more than 40 stab marks on his vest but fortunately only one had penetrated and was not too serious.” The officer suffered a puncture wound to his stomach, a fractured right arm and bruising to his head and body.
Mrs Briggs said: “What annoyed me is that while the attack was going on none of the people in the houses nearby came out to help, but once the danger was gone and the other police officers arrived on the scene they all came out for a nose.
“People ought to be more willing to intervene, it is the right thing to do. Obviously there are times when it will not be helpful to put yourself in danger, but I just don’t seen how anyone can stand by and watch another human being attacked like that without wanting to help.”
The attacker was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and sentenced to a hospital order under the Mental Health Act.