Just four days into his training and a rookie police community support officer (PCSO) has stepped in to help one of West Midlands Police’s top cops while making an off-duty arrest.
Osman Mahmood raced to the aid of Superintendent Keith Fraser who had been pinned to the floor by the woman he’d arrested seconds before for attacking an 18-year-old girl on the top deck of a Birmingham bus.
The senior officer had left the force’s Edgbaston training college on Pershore Road and caught the 45 bus to return to the city centre at around 3pm yesterday (Friday 23 May).
Taking his top deck seat he became aware of two men and two women being rowdy.
Before ordering the group off the bus, the officer with 28 years experience, checked with the driver that he was happy to pull over.
As he made his way back upstairs a backseat passenger was screaming having been verbally abused by the group. It later emerged that the teenager had been allegedly assaulted by member of the group.
The four were taken downstairs and a barrage of sickening racist abuse hurled at the officer.
As he attempted to make his arrest Supt Fraser was assaulted with one woman pinning him down while the rest of the group closed in on the grappling pair.
At this point, PCSO Mahmood, who started his PCSO training just four days before, hauled the woman off the prone officer. The dynamic duo then detained the group until other officers − summoned by the bus driver and passengers − arrived at the scene.
Supt Fraser, who sustained back and neck injuries in the incident, praised the new recruit for his bravery and instinctive response. “When we recently opened recruitment for the next generation of police community support officers we wanted the best of the best who would serve the public and transform the lives of local people.
“By stepping in the way he did, PCSO Osman Mahmood has already proven his credentials with only four days of training under his belt.
“The role of PCSO is non-confrontational but Osman clearly acted instinctively by helping who he thought was a member of the public. He was incredibly courageous and I will be meeting him in the coming days to thank him for his intervention.
“I’d also like to thank the bus driver and those passengers who dialled 999 to summon help.”
PCSO Mahmood was at home and unavailable for comment today.
A 25-year-old woman from Selly Park, who was wanted on warrant, was arrested on suspicion of assault, public order offences and possession of cannabis.
A 22-year-old woman from Rednal was arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated assault and assaulting a police officer.
Both have been released on conditional police bail pending further enquiries.
In addition to regular officers patrolling the transport network, the region’s buses, trains and trams have a dedicated police unit.
Safer Travel is a partnership between West Midlands Police, British Transport Police and transport companies and officials.
For more information about the work of Safer Travel visit: http://www.safertravel.info/