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Officers praised for response to crossbow shooting

BBC A police officer in a reflective yellow coat and uniform, stood behind blue and white police tape with a red brick house behind him. BBC
Police attending the scene on 10 May in High Wycombe

The police watchdog has praised armed officers who shot a man after he injured one of their colleagues with a crossbow.

Armed police were called to School Close in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, on 10 May after reports of a stabbing involving two men.

Jason King, 54, of School Close, later pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent for shooting PC Curtis Foster with a crossbow.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said the officers, who later shot King in the stomach, had "acted courageously and professionally in bringing the incident to a satisfactory conclusion".

On 10 May at about 18:00 BST, King was involved in an argument with a neighbour, a man in his 60s, who he stabbed in the stomach.

When unarmed officers arrived, King shot at them with a crossbow out of his window. He then came out of his house before shooting PC Foster in the leg.

When armed police arrived on the scene, they shot King in the stomach. He was taken to hospital and discharged 10 days later and subsequently charged.

At Aylesbury Crown Court on 20 September, King also pleaded guilty to affray, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of a bladed article. He will be sentenced in January.

A member of the public was also injured at the scene, and a mandatory referral was made to the IOPC.

A close up image of a street sign reading "School Close". It is covered by bushes and tapped off by blue and white police tape.
"This case was clearly dealt with utmost professionalism and dedication to duty," said Mr Metcalfe.

Tim Metcalfe, Thames Valley Police assistant chief constable, said all the actions of the officers involved - including the shots fired - "were fully justified, proportionate and necessary".

The IOPC said "no conduct issues" were identified for any officer.

It reviewed police body cameras, radio transmissions, mobile phone footage from the public and witness statements.

Mel Palmer, the IOPC regional director, said the officers were dealing with "a dangerous man".

"This was a frightening incident for the officers involved and I want to recognise their courage, professionalism and sound judgement under pressure," she said.

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