Why was the PCSO put in such a position? It was only a matter of time before something like this happened.


A police community support officer who is in a critical condition after being stabbed in the neck is undergoing emergency surgery for a second time.

The 47-year-old man had been helping a housing organisation in Greater Manchester with an eviction when he was stabbed at about 1030 GMT.

He was taken to hospital for surgery but returned to theatre when he deteriorated in intensive care.

A 63-year-old man from Stalybridge has been arrested on suspicion of wounding.

The PCSO, who has not been named, was attempting to serve an eviction notice on a man at Elizabeth Avenue in Stalybridge when the attack took place.

Staff and bailiffs representing New Charter Housing Association had requested a police presence while they carried out the eviction.

Deputy Chief Constable Dave Whatton, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Police officers and the local Police Community Support Officer had arranged to attend while the eviction was being carried out.

"The Police Community Support Officer, a 47-year-old man, arrived before the police officers.

"A conversation then took place between those present from the Housing Association and the Police Community Support Officer and a man.

"A short time later the man came out of the house and attacked those present.

"He lunged with a knife and cut the Police Community Support Officer on the neck."

The man, who is among some 7,000 PCSOs across the UK, was not wearing a stab-proof vest or body-armour at the time of the attack.

Community support officers are uniformed civilians who work alongside regular police constables.

Their job is to carry out high visibility patrols, reassure local communities and gather intelligence. In some forces they also help with tasks such as evictions.

-whats the difference between body armour and a stab vest?
-surley body armour/stab vests do not cover the neck!
-does the force issue body armour?

Don't hire fakes to do the job of a real Policeman then. At least Constables are better equipped and trained to deal with such a lunatic.

In a statement following the stabbing of a GMP PCSO, Deputy Chief Constable Dave Whatton gave a statement;

'Today, shortly before 11am, members of staff and bailiffs representing New Charter Housing Association went to 6 Elizabeth Avenue, Stalybridge, to carry out the eviction of a man from that address.

They had asked for a police presence. Police officers and the local Police Community Support Officer had arranged to attend while the eviction was being carried out.

The Police Community Support Officer, a 47-year-old man, arrived before the police officers. A conversation then took place between those present from the Housing Association and the Police Community Support Officer and a man. A short time later the man came out of the house and attacked those present. He lunged with a knife and cut the Police Community Support Officer on the neck.

The PCSO was immediately given first aid by others at the scene. He was then taken to Tameside General Hospital where his condition rapidly deteriorated. He was taken into theatre for emergency surgery to stem the bleeding and then admitted to intensive care. However, since then he has been taken back into theatre, where surgeons are currently operating on him.

A 63-year-old man was arrested by regular police officers when they arrived a short time after the attack and is currently in custody.

As you can imagine our thoughts are with the PCSO and his family at this time, particularly as it is so close to Christmas.

There is nothing further we can say at this time, but we will update you with information as soon as it becomes available.'


Late yesterday evening GMP added the following;

'The Police Community Support Officer stabbed today on Elizabeth Avenue, Stalybridge, Tameside, Greater Manchester, is out of surgery.

He is back in intensive care at Tameside General Hospital where his condition remains critical.

A 63-year-old man, arrested earlier today on suspicion on Section 18 wounding, remains in police custody.'

From the national press, the Guardian covered the story in the following way;

A police community support officer was last night fighting for his life after he was stabbed in the neck. The 47-year-old, who has not been named, was attacked while on duty overseeing an eviction from a property in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester.

He was undergoing further surgery last night after his condition deteriorated, police said. The attack took place at about 10.30am yesterday as the officer was "assisting a housing association with an eviction", a Greater Manchester police spokesman said.

While members of staff from the New Charter Housing Association were attempting to stem the flow of blood from the stab wound, the 63-year-old tenant allegedly threw two pans of boiling water over them.

The officer was taken to Tameside general hospital for emergency surgery before being admitted to intensive care. His condition worsened and he underwent further surgery. A 63-year-old man has been arrested, the spokesman said.

Greater Manchester deputy chief constable Dave Whatton said: "Our thoughts are with the PCSO and his family at this time, particularly as it is so close to Christmas."

I wish the PCSO a quick recovery. He was doing his job after all, as a member of the police service. It's not his fault.

However, serious questions need to be asked at the type of situations PCSO's are placed in to. OK, perhaps in this situation it would have made no difference if this was a PC. But that's not the point. This was a violent situation that the PCSO was placed in to. So much for a "non confrontational role"

He should never of been placed in such a confrontational situation, questions should start to be asked if PCSO's are being placed in these types of situation

I would suggest that on a daily basis, up and down the country they are put in confrontational situations. We have a Met PR in our control room and every day you will hear PCSO's put up for jobs which they shouldn't be attending but of course the control room staff are under pressure to get the No of I and S graded calls down so they show them assigned. Their role needs to be redefined as per their orginal concept ie community based 'eyes & ears' and non confrontational. It was only a matter of time before one was seriously injured!!

My thoughts go out to the PCSO and he's family I hope he makes a speedy recovery.

I feel sorry for the PCSO - Should have been a cop there with a baton and spray though!

Last night we had two assistance calls from PCSO's which sounded serious over the radio only to turn upto not a lot really.
They had panicked when they had come across two situations and didn't have the knowledge or powers to deal with them.

Naturally angry people go for the nearest uniform, we've all experienced it but as a regualr officer you'd have baton or CS to defend yourself

No more cardboard cut outs needed, proper police required

The PCSO who was injured in Stalybridge on Monday 4 December 2006 is 47-year-old Gary Etchells from Glossop in Derbyshire.

Gary was stabbed in the neck while assisting members of staff and bailiffs representing New Charter Housing Association with an eviction on Elizabeth Avenue in Stalybridge. He was taken to Tameside General Hospital where he is now breathing on his own and asking for his wife.

Gary is married to Andie Etchells and he has four sons aged 9, twins of 15 and 19.

Speaking this morning, Andie said: "What can I say about Gary? He's a caring, generous and genuine man. If you don't like Gary, then there's something wrong with you.

"I was worried I was going to lose him but thank God he is improving.

"Gary became a PCSO in one of the first intakes three or four years ago. He had been running a theatre before that and decided to become a PCSO because he wanted to so something more worth while. He thought if he didn't do it at this stage of his life, he never would. I know he is really good at his job and loves it.

"He is one of those guys who will never tell you about all his achievements; never one to show off, even though he does such a fantastic job. When I'm describing him, I worry that I am selling him short because he is such a good man.

"We have been really well looked after by police, by Gary's friends and colleagues and by mine and I want to thank them all for that. We've had so many messages of support, which have helped us at this difficult time.

"I understand that people are interested and want to know how we are coping and how Gary is, but I would like to ask the media to leave us alone now and allow us some privacy. We need to concentrate on keeping strong for Gary."

Deputy Chief Constable Dave Whatton said:

Shortly before 11am on Monday 4 December 2006, members of staff and bailiffs representing New Charter Housing Association went to 6 Elizabeth Avenue, Stalybridge, to carry out the eviction of a man from that address.

They had asked for a police presence. Police officers and the local Police Community Support Officer had arranged to attend while the eviction was being carried out.

The Police Community Support Officer, a 47-year-old man, arrived before the police officers. A conversation then took place between those present from the Housing Association and the Police Community Support Officer and a man. A short time later the man came out of the house and attacked those present. He lunged with a knife and cut the Police Community Support Officer on the neck.

The PCSO was immediately given first aid by others at the scene. He was then taken to Tameside General Hospital where his condition rapidly deteriorated. He was taken into theatre for emergency surgery to stem the bleeding and then admitted to intensive care. However, since then he has been taken back into theatre, where surgeons are currently operating on him.

A 63-year-old man was arrested by regular police officers when they arrived a short time after the attack and is currently in custody.

As you can imagine our thoughts are with the PCSO and his family at this time, particularly as it is so close to Christmas.