Rookie PC stabbed in face with kitchen knife during domestic incident

A rookie police officer who was stabbed in the face while responding to a domestic incident has said it was a miracle nobody was killed in the attack.

PC Tim Smithson, 23, said the call-out to the property in the Sparkhill area of Birmingham was pretty routine until he and a colleague went into the kitchen to discuss the next steps.

The probationary officer, who was only a year into his training, described how Tariq Zeb, 53, followed them in and ‘out of nowhere’ picked up a kitchen knife and lunged towards them.

He said: ‘Without a doubt, he wanted to hurt us. He was going for us with the knife, as well as punching us. The judge said that it was down to luck that there were no fatalities that day.’

PC Smithson suffered a nasty wound to his cheek, just below his left eye.

‘I fell back and could feel a warm liquid on my face, but it wasn’t until I stood up that I quickly realised I was bleeding a lot,’ he said.

‘It’s scary to think what could have happened if my head had been any lower or the man’s arm was higher. I could’ve lost an eye, I could’ve been blinded.’

Zeb admitted GBH with intent and assault occasioning ABH and was jailed for five years and five months at Birmingham Crown Court in June.

Despite their best efforts, the officers struggled to stop the attack.

‘I used my PAVA but that was unsuccessful,’ the PC said. ‘My colleague released Taser twice, and it was the second attempt which was successful and eventually stopped the man from attacking us.

‘I was lucky I’d been crewed up with someone with a Taser. I don’t know what would have happened if the Taser hadn’t been a success.’

The man was handcuffed and back-up soon arrived to help the officers restrain the offender.

He added: ‘I know I was lucky to walk away with the minor injuries I did, but mentally, what happened still impacts me every time I head out on duty.

‘Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy the job, but it’s definitely left me with a level of anxiety and apprehension. And it’s not just me, it’s my family too. They found it very distressing, and they constantly worry about me.’

The officer shared his experience after figures from the Office of National Statistics showed there were 2,475 assaults on police officers in West Midlands Police, which currently has around 8,000 officers. Of those 2,475 assaults, 893 resulted in injury.

He said: ‘Assaults on officers are becoming far too common, and it’s not acceptable. Our job is to help people, so why do so many of us continue to be violently assaulted?’

PC Smithson also praised the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, for its support following the attack, revealing branch chair Rich Cooke called him the day after the incident to check in.

Mr Cooke said: ‘Having viewed the body-worn video – which I found difficult to watch, even after 24 years in the job – Tim showed tremendous composure and stoicism in the face of such a vicious, unprovoked attack.

‘The physical and mental scars from such incidents can never be erased, but you learn to adapt and come back stronger, as Tim has shown. Tim is a credit to the Force. I hope this sentence acts as a deterrent – five years custody should serve as a strong punishment and warning to others who may attack us.’

The PC was also supported by Federation representative Gemma Griffith, who is also his sergeant.

She said: ‘Tim and Kevin displayed true bravery and dignity throughout the process, from the initial incident whereby they were professional and heroic, to the court case and sentencing decision.

‘Tim is a student officer with limited service who returned to work just a few days after being slashed.

‘He was back out on the streets as if it had never happened, although I recognise the personal impact this must have had on him and can only praise how he has continued to carry out his policing work. He has continued to put members of the public first when he had gone through his own distressing and personal ordeal.’

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