A police officer who was stabbed with a machete during a routine traffic stop has been honoured with one of Metropolitan Police’s top awards.
Pc Stuart Outten was working a night shift in August 2019 when he signalled for a van with no insurance to pull over.
The van driver eventually stopped, shouted at officers and attempted to drive off but when Pc Outten stopped him, he was punched twice in the face and knifed with a two-foot machete.
Pc Outten fired his taser to incapacitate the driver but sustained life-changing injuries during the attack.
These included six deep wounds to the head with associated multiple fractures to the skull, and two wounds to the lower part of his right arm with multiple fractures of the fingers.
Now back at work and hoping to return to full duties soon, Pc Outten was enshrined with the Commissioner’s High Commendation for “extreme courage” and “extraordinary bravery”.
Pc Outten said: “I will never forget what happened that night but I would never let it stop me doing the job I love.
“Luckily my training kicked in and thankfully the Taser was effective the second time.
“I have had a huge amount of support both internally and from members of the public and I am honoured to have now received this commendation – it means a huge amount.”
His attacker, Mohammed Rodwan, was found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and sentenced to 16 years in prison with a further three years on extended licence.
Other officers commended by the commissioner include former detective constable Steve Harvey, who pursued an armed suspect in 1982 in Peckham, London, and Detective Constable Natasha Holing, who fought her way through a smoke-filled building to evacuate a number of residents in Norbury, in the south west of the city, in 2018.
A number of other awards were also handed out at the ceremony, including to Pc Allan Parker, who received the Royal Humane Society silver medal and the police medal for preventing a distressed 16-year-old stepping out into rush hour traffic in July 2018.
Simon Geary and Callum White were awarded the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) police public bravery award gold medals, while Oliver Tonkin and Sharon Bettesworth received NPCC police bravery award certificates of commendation.
Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick, said: “I am extremely proud to commend these officers and members of the public who acted without a thought for their own safety in order to protect others.
“Their quick thinking, bravery and professionalism is outstanding and I thank them for their selfless actions.”
