Off-duty police officer and his friend who tackled violent offender recognised with Federation Bravery Award

12 May 2023

A police officer who was off-duty when he tackled a violent offender who had beaten a man unconscious – and his friend who stepped forward and assisted – have won Essex Police Federation Bravery Awards.

In November 2021, PC Ben Leaver was returning home after completing his late shift on the Southend Town Centre team. When he got near home, he was flagged down by a friend, Josh Giddens, who alerted him to a fight.

They saw a man assaulting another man, who was lying on the ground motionless. The man on the ground had horrific injuries.

PC Leaver recalls: “I saw a crumpled heap in the corner, which turned out to be the victim… I initially thought he was dead because of the amount of blood and he wasn’t responding to anything. Then a very drunk man appeared… the bloke started to try and say, ‘He’s my friend, I’ll look after him’, and I said, ‘You’re under arrest, suspicion of assault’.”

PC Leaver and Mr Giddens approached the assailant and PC Leaver identified himself as a police officer. The suspect then turned his aggression on them, assaulting them and biting PC Leaver. PC Leaver and Mr Giddens eventually got the man onto the ground, and were able to summon medical assistance and call for back-up officers.

At the same time PC Leaver was shouting to nearby members of the public to provide basic first aid to the injured man, who he was unable to reach as he was holding down the assailant.

He said: “My primary function as a police officer is to protect life and I couldn’t get to the victim because the suspect was so violent. So I had to ask Josh to help me to restrain the man on the floor while telling the others not to move the victim because he had a traumatic head injury.”

Police assistance arrived and the suspect was charged and remanded for assault by beating of an emergency worker, possession of a controlled drug of class B, and grievous bodily harm with intent.

A 44-year-old Southend man was later jailed for a total of six years and six months for causing grievous bodily harm with intent and for two counts of assaulting an emergency worker by beating.

The victim was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition but survived.
PC Leaver spent eight hours in Southend Hospital getting his injuries treated and was understandably concerned about infection from the bite or catching Covid. He had to undergo a course of antibiotics.

PC Leaver said: “You always think it’s just another part of your job. I don’t think it’s particularly noteworthy! But it’s nice to be recognised. I’ve been a police officer for 18 years so it’s nice to get some recognition.

“I’d also like to praise Josh… he’s a civilian, so like most people on that night he could have just stood there with his phone in his hand and not got involved, but he did.”

Josh said: “It feels good to be commended but it’s something I felt I had to do. I’m not sure if it was stupidity or bravery. I felt a bit numb afterwards and it took a few days for what had happened to sink in.”

Essex Police Federation Chair Laura Heggie said: “Ben was off-duty when he came across the victim being horrifically assaulted in the street. He demonstrated huge bravery and selflessness in tackling the violent offender.

“Once again this incident shows how police officers are never off duty. Always running towards the danger to keep people safe. We are very proud of Ben and he is a very worthy winner of an Essex Police Federation Bravery Award.

“I also want to thank Josh for his courageous actions that night.”

PC Leaver and Mr Giddens will attend the Essex Police Federation Bravery Awards on Thursday 18 May.

At the event a winner will be announced who will travel to London for the National Police Federation Bravery Awards in July.

The lead sponsor for the Awards is The Northern Police Healthcare Scheme.

Also sponsoring the Awards are Rates Group, No 1 Copperpot Credit Union, Metfriendly, Slater Gordon, Flint House Police Rehabilitation, Uniform Mortgages, THB Legal, George Burrows, Arc Legal and Police Mutual.

The hashtag for the event is #EssexFedBravery.