PCSO punched several times in the face - police

A police community support officer (PCSO) in Crawley has been punched multiple times in the face in a "deplorable act", Sussex Police have said.

A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker.

He remains in police custody, according to the force.

The PCSO, praised by a senior officer for his "bravery", was responding to a report of a man acting suspiciously in the Broadfield Barton area at about 18:45 BST on Thursday.

He was punched "several times" in the face as he approached the suspect, leaving him with a suspected broken nose, police said.

Dave McLaren, Deputy Chief Constable of Sussex Police, told BBC Radio Sussex that he "wouldn't say [the officer was] ok".

But he added that the PSCO had been released from hospital in the early hours of Friday morning and was recovering at home.

Mr McLaren said he could not discuss the "ins and outs" of the incident as there was an ongoing police investigation, but commended the officer's "bravery".

"PCSOs do not have personal safety equipment," he added.

Mr McLaren also thanked the members of the public who came to the PCSO's aid and helped detain the man while further police officers arrived.

"This was a totally deplorable act on a PCSO, whose purpose is to serve and protect the community," the force's Supt for Crawley and Mid Sussex Imran Asghar said.

"Assaults on emergency workers will absolutely not be tolerated."

Sussex Police urged anyone who witnessed the incident or who has relevant information to contact them.

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