Mug the Police at your Peril!

It was at the junction of Grove Green Road and Cathall Road, Leytonstone. We couldn't believe the number of police vehicles we had passed. As we were driving along Grove Green Road to the call, it seemed as if every police vehicle in London was there. Each side of the road was littered with parked and abandoned police cars and vans.

It was about midnight when we approached the scene and there was a large group of people standing in the middle of the junction. I'd estimate between 8 to 10 people not including the patient. I recall there were others in the immediate vicinity.

When we managed to fight our way through the melee we found our patient an adult male lying on his back in the middle of the road. He was F'ing and Blinding at the other guys who were restraining him. There was two on each arm and two others were standing on his legs. It was mayhem! The men doing the restraining were police officers and the man being restrained was a criminal who had a gunshot wound to his chest. I was surprised that he was in a fit state to do anything.

We somehow managed to get this guy onto our stretcher and loaded into the ambulance. After rendering initial treatment we started out for the hospital. How we ever got there was a miracle. Despite our protests we could not reduce the number of officers wishing to accompany the patient. The ambulance seemed full to bursting and trying to do anything was almost impossible. Health and Safety! What Health and Safety? The ambulance was groaning under the weight. Somehow we got to Whipps X in one piece and as far as I know the patient survived.

He had been shot by a police firearms officer when he levelled a gun at them after being chased into our area from North London!

The story is, he was armed and hijacked two officers who were parked up in their patrol car in North London. He made them strip and tied them up before stealing the car. One of them had managed to quickly struggle free and had alerted their control which initiated a massive response. After a lengthy chase from North London into our area he was eventually cornered in Cathall Road. He allegedly aimed his weapon at the police, who responded by shooting him.

I believe that his gun was later found to be a replica.