A patrol officer was stabbed about midnight on Thursday after attempting to stop a van in Leyton, east London. The driver, aged in his 50s, failed to stop and when confronted by police attacked an officer with a machete. The officer was able to taser the attacker despite his injuries allowing another officer to intervene and apprehend the man.

London Chief Superintendent Richard Tucker held a press conference explaining the nature of the incident while emphasising the daily danger that police face working in London.

He said: “It is shocking but unfortunately it is not uncommon.”

A reporter then questioned how dangerous policing is this year and whether it has gotten worse recently.

Mr Tucker replied: “No it is not, this is a particularly nasty event.

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“But I would say there is always a threat being a police officer.

“It is actually what the risk is and there is a risk when you are stopping people that something might happen.

“That is why we have our tasers, handcuffs our cs gas and batons if it happens.

“We have training, regular officer safety training.

“So it is hard to say, I can’t lay my hands on the figures at the moment on has it got worse or better, it has always been a risk.

“The base where they are in 1991 one of our officers got killed there, there has always been a threat to being a police officer.”

During the interview, the Chief Superintendent also commended the officer for his bravery and quick thinking.

Despite suffering a head injury to the head during the “frenzied” attack the officer was able to taser the culprit.

He continued: “There could be many reasons for attacks on officers is going up.

“You might not believe this but some officers think it is part of the job to be assaulted, it is not.

“Our officers come here to look after people, they do not come here to be assaulted, it is a risky job but we are far more aware of it and the recording procedures.”

He added: “Officers certainly have to put up with abuse and physical and verbal attacks every single day.

“It’s worrying but we do it for a reason, we do it to make London safer.”

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan tweeted: “I am utterly appalled by this sickening attack.

“The men and women who serve in our police force in London are the best in the world, their courage and dedication is inspiring.

“I’m in contact with senior Met officers, and an arrest has been made.”

Mr Khan has also helped set up a Violent Crime Reduction Unit in the capital to help combat the rise in violent crime. 

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