A man has been sentenced to 12-months in prison after he wielded a knife and attacked another man in Southwark, South London. Off-duty officers in the area intervened and arrested him.
This video shows the moment where a large group of officers ran to intervene in the attack. All dressed in plain clothes, as they were off-duty, the officers apprehended the man who can be seen threatening the victim with a knife.
A knife-wielding man has been jailed after a group of off-duty officers rushed to intervene as he attacked another man in #Southwark
Shocking footage demonstrates "the heroism shown by these officers is nothing short of exceptional" as they separate the attacker from the victim. pic.twitter.com/1YHV35Wqkr
— Southwark Police | Central South BCU (@MPSSouthwark) February 14, 2024
The incident occurred on 21 July last year. A group of officers from the Gangs & Pro-Active Team in the Central South Command were out socialising together at a bar in Elephant Park when they noticed the altercation unfolding nearby.
Two groups of men were involved when one was struck over the head and a dog set on him, the Met has said. Another man was then standing over him and repeatedly trying to slash him with a knife.
The force described how the officers “sprang into action” and separated the attacker from the victim. The suspect threw the knife at the officers and attempted to run away, but was arrested. The officers then administered first aid to the victim.
The suspect, Joseph Jimenez, 20, from North London appeared at Croydon Crown Court yesterday having pleaded guilty previously.
He has been sentenced to eight months for possession of a knife and four months for affray (fighting in a public place that disturbs the peace). The sentences will run concurrently.
Detective Inspector Jon Summers praised the officers who intervened.
He said “They had been off-duty and were without any form of protective equipment such as batons or PAVA spray, or a police radio. Still they intervened, working tactically together in coordinating their approach to close off the suspect’s possible escape route, and swiftly arrested him.”
