Police Commendations

Commendations for Southend PC and member of the public who restrained violent attacker

Southend PC Ben Leaver and his friend Josh Giddens have been awarded commendations by Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington for saving an unconscious man and apprehending his attacker.

Ben was returning to his home near Rochford after a late shift on a cold, dark evening last November when he was flagged down by Josh, who’d been out collecting a takeaway. Josh had encountered two men, one of whom appeared badly beaten. He offered to call an ambulance, but the beaten man’s companion said one was already on the way.

A traumatic head injury

was so violent. 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. “It’s a real honour to be commended but I think Josh’s actions were more noteworthy, given that he’s a civilian. I am trained to deal with this sort of thing whereas he just jumped in.” When back-up arrived, the attacker spat at one police officer and bit another on the leg. His victim was taken to hospital. 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.

However, they started to walk off, so Josh called 999. As he did, the companion started to kick and punch the injured man. “Then,” Josh said, “in a fateful moment, I saw Ben driving past.” Ben arrived to find the victim in a “crumpled heap on the ground”. He attempted to restrain and arrest the attacker with Josh’s help and was bitten. Ben said: “My primary function as a police officer is to protect life but I couldn’t get to the victim because the suspect

"Our officers are trained for this"

Reflecting on his actions, Josh said: “We were told afterwards that if we hadn’t have stopped, the man could have died from his injuries or from hypothermia. “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.” Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: “Police officers are never off duty and their instinct is to run towards danger, which is exactly what Ben did when he was flagged down. “But our officers are trained for this and the public are not, so the fact that Josh did not flinch or turn away when he saw a man being brutally attacked, instead trying to assist and get help is outstanding. “Both men were particularly brave in what was clearly a volatile situation.”