Boy, 15, charged with stabbing female police officer during ‘attempted robbery’ in London

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter a valid email address

SIGN UP

I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy

A teenage boy has been charged with stabbing a police officer in London.

The female Metropolitan Police officer and a male colleague had been responding to a report of a robbery at a grocery store in London.

The female officer was stabbed in the abdomen and taken to hospital, but has since been discharged.

A 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, has been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm against a police officer.

The teenager, from Barking in east London, was also charged with assaulting the male officer, attempted robbery, threatening someone with a blade, assault by beating and criminal damage.

Another 15-year-old boy, from Hampshire, was charged with assaulting the male officer, attempted robbery, threatening someone with a blade, assault and criminal damage.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said the two suspects had been challenged by officers in Chapter Street, Westminster, on Sunday afternoon.

“During the incident, the female officer received a stab wound to the abdomen,” he added.

“The males were later arrested and charged as above. The officer was taken to hospital, but later discharged.”

Scotland Yard said the female officer had continued to chase the suspects after being stabbed, and they were detained a short time later with assistance from armed police.

Chief Inspector Simon Brooker said: “This shows precisely the kind of danger officers face every single day as they work to keep the public safe.

“For this officer to be stabbed on duty is unacceptable but, fortunately, she does not appear to be seriously injured.

“I applaud her bravery in responding to this call. This courage is typical of Met officers as they go about their duties.”

The stabbing came after an increase in assaults on emergency workers, which rose by 29 per cent in the past year in England and Wales, and days after another Metropolitan Police officer – Matt Ratana – was shot dead in Croydon.

At a press conference last week, the chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council said senior officers were “very concerned” about the trend.

Martin Hewitt said the bulk of incidents were assaults without injury, such as people claiming they have coronavirus and coughing on officers.

“They should not have to face abuse of any kind, it is not part of the job,” he added.

“We will act and prosecute anyone who assaults a member of the emergency services using the full force of the law.”

The government recently unveiled plans to double the maximum sentence for assault on an emergency worker following the rise in attacks.