Southend High Street: Off-duty officer tackles knife suspect

PC Harry Lavell, who was with his young daughter, partner, and father-in-law, spotted a brawl breaking out between two groups of youths in Southend High Street, on June 28.

The off-duty Metropolitan Police officer identified himself as police and moved toward the fight, prompting some to scatter.

One of them ran towards Harry and his family, and after making sure his family were at a safe distance, he tackled the man to the ground.

However, the officer then heard shouts of "he has got a knife", and began to chase the man running away with the weapon before single-handedly arresting him following a short chase.

Award - PC Harry Lavell, of the Metropolitan Police, left, with Essex Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington (Image: Essex Police)

And now PC Harry Lavell has been commended by Essex Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington for his bravery.

He said: "Once you know a knife is involved that escalates the situation because you have to minimise the danger to the public as well as to yourself.

"So I left the man on the ground and asked for a description of the man who was said to have a knife.

"I spotted him running away and went straight after him, saw him throw something in a bin and heard it clang.

"I caught up with him, arrested him for possession of an offensive weapon and detained him while I waited for local officers to arrive as I knew they had already been called by a member of the public."

Southend Local Policing Team officers were soon at the scene in Southend High Street.

Harry directed them to the bin, where a knife was recovered, and the man was taken to custody.

He was subsequently revealed to be a suspect in an attempted murder the month before.

Of his commendation, PC Lavell said modestly: "It was a pleasant surprise to be commended.

"Police officers up and down the country do this sort of thing every single day."

Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington added: “In this country we expect our police officers to run towards danger but it is right to recognise them when they do.

"Although he was off-duty, PC Lavell did not hesitate, firstly, to deal with a fight and then, when he knew a knife may be involved, to confront that danger, too.

"Thankfully, no-one was hurt in the incident but, thanks to PC Lavell, a man was arrested on suspicion of not one but two crimes of serious violence and a dangerous weapon was taken off our streets. That’s top work on a day off."