Police Officer Run Over By Suspect In Birmingham Could Face ‘Life-Changing’ Injuries

“These incidents fortunately don’t happen every day and they are not incredibly common – but when they do happen they are very sobering because it reminds everyone just how dangerous the profession of policing can be.

“It is often said that the danger people run away from, officers have to run towards and certainly on this occasion, officers were met with an extremely violent individual who has caused very significant injuries.

“I think those who know the officer know he has invested his entire career in trying to tackle car thieves, burglars, and those sort of offenders who cause the most harm to our society.

“He was doing what he has done diligently for many, many years now.”

Joyce continued: “He has been with West Midlands Police for 17 years now, of which the last 12 he has been serving as a traffic officer.

“He’s a second generation police officer – his father served with West Midlands Police as well – so policing is in his blood. It’s his calling if you will.

“I think most officers who have served a career of that length will at some point have suffered some sort of injury and faced violence.

“But certainly this is going to be the most significant injuries he has faced.”

Assistant Chief Constable Sarah Boycott said: “This is a shocking attack in which a member of our police family has been seriously hurt while trying to detain a crime suspect.

“Attacks on our officers and staff won’t be tolerated and we will always seek the toughest possible criminal justice outcome for offenders.”

The incident comes just days after Metropolitan Police officer Stuart Outten was left with head and hand injuries after challenging a motor offences suspect allegedly armed with a machete in east London.

Muhammad Rodwan, 56, has been charged with the attempted murder of PC Outten, 28, and possession of an offensive weapon following the incident in Leyton just after midnight on Thursday.