A Metropolitan Police officer who was violently attacked with a sword but still managed to arrest the attacker despite being slashed has been nominated for The National Police Bravery Awards.
On the evening of 30 November 2020, PC Aksit Ekrem was on the response team in Dagenham when a call came in for him and his partner to attend a domestic incident, where a woman had reported a male in his sixties behaving violently.
PC Ekrem said: “I went into the living room and there’s this little frail old man sitting in the corner. He’s just sat at the table and he’s not saying anything, he’s not doing anything.
“My colleague went into the kitchen to speak to the girlfriend who’d phoned us, so I thought I’ll just arrest him and I started saying the caution to him. I looked down at my vest to get my handcuffs out and when I look up he’s jumped out of his seat and he’s pulled a sword from behind him, holding it above his head to strike down at me…”
PC Erkin then fighters his taser but missed the man who was moving towards him with the swords, managing to push the man down to the floor and pin him down, only then did PC Ekrem see his blood hands.
The 62-year-old attacker was charged with GBH with intent and was later sentenced to seven years in prison.
PC Ekrem was taken to hospital where he stayed for five days, and had pins put in his hand. Suffering from ligament damage, nerve damage and muscle wastage, he couldn’t use his hand and was off work for six months. He also experienced flashbacks and had to receive counselling.
PC Ekrem said it was “amazing” to receive the Bravery Award nomination, even though he felt he was just doing his job. He said: “I don’t see myself as a hero or anything. I was just doing what I’m supposed to do, but it’s nice to get recognition.”