The suspect was arrested (stock photo)
(Picture: PA Archive)A female PC has been praised for her life saving bravery after detaining a suspected gang member carrying a machete on his way to attack a rival.
The officer spotted the man on Essex Road in Islington after police were called by people concerned about a group of young men carrying knives.
She chased him and eventually managed to detain him despite his resistance and efforts by a member of the public to stop her.
She searched him and found a machete which police believe he was carrying so that he and the other men with him could use it to attack a gang rival.
Her actions were highlighted in a tweet by her Islington colleagues and have now drawn praise from the Met’s deputy commissioner Dame Lynne Owens.
She said the officer’s actions should “get much attention” and were an example of the positive work that Met officers carry out.
“How brave was this officer - she chased, detained & hang onto a suspect found to be armed!,”’ Dame Lynne tweeted.
“This needs to get much attention. Accountability needs to recognise the good as well as bad & she undoubtedly saved lives or prevented serious injury.”
Dame Lynne’s praise came after the officer’s actions were disclosed in a tweet by Islington police.
It said that the female PC had “responded to calls from concerned members of the public about youths with knives” and after spotting a “male answering the description… chased him and detained him for a search.”
It added: “The suspect resisted - and a member of the public also intervened, trying to help the suspect escape.
“Despite this, the officer detained the male and on searching him that he was in possession of a machete. We believe the male was part of a group and he was carrying the weapon as they made their way to attack a gaj rival.
“The officer’s actions - and her ability to detain a suspect despite a member of the public trying to free him - could well have saved a life.”
The Islington arrest is the second time recently that police have highlighted efforts by members of the public to stop searches that resulted in weapons being found.
The earlier incident involved the Homerton Policing Team.
It tweeted a photo of two large knives alongside the message: “To the two members of the public who tried to obstruct us whilst we were dealing with a group of youths in Retreat place E9 tonight, shouting at us & accusing us of harassing the youths, if you tried to listen to us we may have been able to show you what we found.”
