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| Hail have-a-go heroes, says chief | Hail have-a-go heroes, says chief |
| (1 day later) | |
| People who put themselves in danger to tackle criminals should be celebrated as heroes, the UK's most senior police officer has said. | People who put themselves in danger to tackle criminals should be celebrated as heroes, the UK's most senior police officer has said. |
| Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said such people "make our society worthwhile". | Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said such people "make our society worthwhile". |
| Police should encourage people to intervene, not just allow them to do so, the commissioner added. | Police should encourage people to intervene, not just allow them to do so, the commissioner added. |
| London has recently seen three cases in which people have died after intervening in violent situations. | London has recently seen three cases in which people have died after intervening in violent situations. |
| 'Bravery and courage' | 'Bravery and courage' |
| Speaking at New Scotland Yard, Sir Paul said: "I have worried on occasions that we have got the advice slightly wrong. | Speaking at New Scotland Yard, Sir Paul said: "I have worried on occasions that we have got the advice slightly wrong. |
| "I am not saying to people 'You should feel guilty about not tackling this 18-stone monster'. | "I am not saying to people 'You should feel guilty about not tackling this 18-stone monster'. |
| How do we at the sharp end, the cops, the CPS, put people out of their misery of worrying about these things? Sir Paul Stephenson Metropolitan Police Commissioner class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=7435&edition=2">Send us your comments | |
| "People have to make reasonable judgments, but actively discouraging people from being active citizens seems to me to be wrong. | "People have to make reasonable judgments, but actively discouraging people from being active citizens seems to me to be wrong. |
| "Our first response should not be to discourage people from doing it. It should be to applaud their bravery and courage. | "Our first response should not be to discourage people from doing it. It should be to applaud their bravery and courage. |
| "Our first response should be to express gratitude that we have got citizens who would do that thing." | "Our first response should be to express gratitude that we have got citizens who would do that thing." |
| Three people have been killed in London recently after acting in the face of violent situations. | Three people have been killed in London recently after acting in the face of violent situations. |
| • Sukhwinder Singh, 31, was stabbed to death after chasing muggers who had snatched a 28-year-old woman's handbag in Barking, east London, on 8 January. | • Sukhwinder Singh, 31, was stabbed to death after chasing muggers who had snatched a 28-year-old woman's handbag in Barking, east London, on 8 January. |
| • Frazer Bradshaw, 33, suffered fatal head injuries as he tried to break up a brawl outside a pub in Uxbridge, west London, in the early hours of New Year's Day. | • Frazer Bradshaw, 33, suffered fatal head injuries as he tried to break up a brawl outside a pub in Uxbridge, west London, in the early hours of New Year's Day. |
| • David Joslin, 23, was fatally injured trying to break up a fight between two groups as he walked past them in Chingford, east London, on 20 December. | • David Joslin, 23, was fatally injured trying to break up a fight between two groups as he walked past them in Chingford, east London, on 20 December. |
| Sir Paul said: "We ought to be saying to relatives 'these people are heroes. These are people who make our society worthwhile'." | Sir Paul said: "We ought to be saying to relatives 'these people are heroes. These are people who make our society worthwhile'." |
| 'Proper actions' | 'Proper actions' |
| The commissioner, who said his wife once intervened several years ago when a woman was being abused on a London bus, said he did not want people to have the added burden of waiting to find out if they were going to be prosecuted. | The commissioner, who said his wife once intervened several years ago when a woman was being abused on a London bus, said he did not want people to have the added burden of waiting to find out if they were going to be prosecuted. |
| "How do we at the sharp end, the cops, the CPS, put people out of their misery of worrying about these things?" he said. | "How do we at the sharp end, the cops, the CPS, put people out of their misery of worrying about these things?" he said. |
| Three men have been killed while intervening in recent weeks | Three men have been killed while intervening in recent weeks |
| "Because in the vast majority of occasions people do not have to worry about these things. | "Because in the vast majority of occasions people do not have to worry about these things. |
| "People should not have to worry about making the proper actions, common sense actions, of things we would all support." | "People should not have to worry about making the proper actions, common sense actions, of things we would all support." |
| Sir Paul's comments came on the day Munir Hussain, who was jailed for permanently injuring an intruder who attacked him and his family, was freed by the Court of Appeal. | Sir Paul's comments came on the day Munir Hussain, who was jailed for permanently injuring an intruder who attacked him and his family, was freed by the Court of Appeal. |
| Hussain, 53, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, had been sentenced 30 months for grievous bodily harm with intent but that was reduced to 12 months suspended for two years. | Hussain, 53, of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, had been sentenced 30 months for grievous bodily harm with intent but that was reduced to 12 months suspended for two years. |