Force condemns ‘simply despicable’ attack on PCSO

A police community support officer (PCSO) is being treated in hospital after a man tried to stab him in the face. The officer was on patrol in Runcorn on Thursday (November 23) when a man alerted him to an apparent fight between three others in a wooded area. As he approached the group, he was attacked from behind by an unknown man armed with a knife. The PCSO fought off his attacker, sustaining superficial wounds to his hands, and was taken to Halton District General Hospital. All four suspects, described as white men wearing dark clothing, fled the scene. Cheshire Constabulary is now appealing for information in relation to the vicious assault. Detective Inspector Clare Coleman said: “This was a totally unprovoked attack on a PCSO who was trying to protect our local community. “The actions of his attacker are simply despicable and I would urge the local community to come together and help us to trace the person responsible so they can be brought to justice. “While the officer was able to fend off his attacker, he has sustained a number of superficial wounds to his hands and understandably has also been left extremely shaken as a result of his ordeal.”