Off-duty cops hailed for stopping knife-wielder, who gets eight-month sentence

A knife-wielding man has been jailed after a group of off-duty cops rushed to intervene as he attacked another man.

Joseph Jimenez, 20, of Baxter Road, Islington, appeared at Croydon Crown Court today, having previously pleaded guilty.

He was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment for possession of a bladed article and four months’ imprisonment for affray. The sentences will run currently at a young offenders’ institute.

Detective Inspector Jon Summers, investigating, said: “The team had finished a long, hard week at work and were enjoying some well-earned downtime together when the events unfolded.

“They had been off-duty and were without any form of protective equipment such as batons or PAVA spray, or a police radio. Still they intervened, working tactically together in coordinating their approach to close off the suspect’s possible escape route, and swiftly arrested him.

“The heroism shown by these officers is nothing short of exceptional. They placed themselves at real risk of serious injury in order to prevent serious harm and to apprehend an offender. It is actions such as these that demonstrate the true heart and soul of the Met.

“They are a credit to themselves, the unit and MPS as a whole.”

On July 21 last year, officers from the Gangs & Pro-Active Team in the Central South Command Unit were out socialising after work together at a bar in Elephant Park, Walworth, when they noticed a violent altercation unfolding nearby.

Two groups of men had been involved in a skirmish when one was struck over the head and a dog was set on him. Another man was standing over him, repeatedly trying to slash him with a large knife.

The officers immediately sprang into action, rushing to separate the attacker from the victim. On seeing the officers, the suspect threw the knife at them and attempted to run away but was swiftly arrested.

Officers administered first aid to the victim and he was taken to hospital for treatment for a head injury. Their fast action likely prevented him from sustaining any more serious injuries.

An investigation was launched. Police recovered CCTV and witness accounts which would later leave the suspect with no choice but to plead guilty.

He was charged on July 22 and remanded in custody.

Chief Superintendent Seb Adjei-Addoh, lead for policing in Southwark and Lambeth, added: “While we expect officers to protect the public, we expect this of them whilst on duty – with proper protective equipment and support. These officers had none of this equipment and were not aware of whether support was on the way or not.

“They had no way of knowing who had weapons or how many. They simply responded to what they could see – had they not acted, a member of the public may have been caused serious or potentially fatal injuries.

“On seeing the spontaneous intervention of the off duty officers all other protagonists fled the scene and a large scale public disorder incident was averted.

“We are incredibly proud of them.”

Pictured top: CCTV footage captures the moments when police sprang into action after witnessing an altercation while off duty (Picture: The Met)