‘There was no choice to make – I had to stop him before he killed someone’

9 November 2021

An off-duty police officer has been nominated for a bravery award after tackling a knifeman who stabbed an emergency services worker in the heart.

West Midlands PC Matthew Evans witnessed the attack near the Royal London Hospital, in Whitechapel, in October 2019. He immediately intervened, putting himself between the attacker, Mohammed Alinoor Uddin, and his victim.

PC Evans (42) then chased Uddin as he fled. He tackled and disarmed the man, who was high on drink and drugs, before holding him on the ground until Metropolitan Police officers arrived.

PC Evans was bitten on the hand by Uddin and also abused by a hostile crowd that gathered, with some trying to prevent him from holding the suspect.

The officer was taken to St Thomas’ Hospital in central London to receive treatment for the bite before giving up the rest of his day off to attend Stoke Newington Police Station, meeting the investigation team and providing a recorded witness interview.

His compelling evidence for the Crown Prosecution Service saw Uddin convicted of wounding with intent at The Old Bailey and jailed for 12 years and nine months in March 2020. He had previous convictions for robbery and possessing knives in public.

The victim of the knife attack survived after emergency surgery at the Royal London Hospital.

PC Evans, an officer with 22 years’ service and based at Birmingham West NPU, has already received a Deputy Commissioner’s award from the Metropolitan Police.

He has now been nominated by West Midlands Police Federation for the Police Bravery Awards 2021.

The senior investigating officer, Detective Gavin Markey, said the attack would likely have continued but for PC Evans’ intervention, with “the outcome far worse for the victim”.

Recalling the attack, PC Evans said: “When I saw the guy being stabbed, for me there wasn’t a choice to make - I had to stop him before he killed someone.

“I’m glad everything turned out well in the end. The doctors, nurses and hospital staff performed a miracle in saving that man’s life.”

Jon Nott, chair of West Midlands Police Federation, said: “PC Evans acted in the finest traditions of British policing when he fearlessly tackled this violent offender.

“He was utterly exceptional and beyond brave. He chased and detained a suspect with a knife, knowing that he had just viciously stabbed another man in the street.

“With absolutely no regard for his own safety, he was simply determined to catch a violent individual. He was then subjected to an assault himself, but his tenacity showed through to ensure this male was unable to escape and the knife he had with him was recovered.

“PC Evans went above and beyond to ensure the offender was captured. He did more than many people would have done, putting himself in harm’s way to catch a dangerous man. He has rightly been commended for the courage he displayed.”

Sir David Thompson, the Chief Constable of West Midlands Police, said: “Matt is a cracking officer. He is a big presence in Birmingham city centre and an outstanding nominee for this selfless act. He is one of our finest.”

The Police Bravery Awards 2021, organised by the Police Federation of England and Wales, will be held in London in December.