Police shortages: ‘Working alone left me with PTSD’

The day PC Mick Johnson confronted a knifeman changed his life forever.

Stabbed in the arm in the 2017 incident in Hartlepool, it left him suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

He says staff shortages caused by cutbacks left him no choice but to operate alone that day.

A Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) survey found nearly 90% of officers say they are under-staffed. The Home Office says it wants to ensure forces have the necessary resources.

The PFEW survey is the only national policing study of its kind, and 18,000 officers of all ranks took part. The first one was conducted in 2016.

The survey also found:

• 79% of officers have experienced feelings of stress and anxiety in the previous 12 months, with 94% of those saying their job made it worse
• Almost every officer has been exposed to at least one traumatic experience in their career, with 61.7% suffering at least one in the last 12 months
• 43.9% reported they viewed their job as very or extremely stressful, up from 38.6% in 2016

PC Johnson’s confrontation with that knifeman two years ago utterly changed him as a person.

“I was off [work] for only three weeks, but later suffered from mood swings, short temper and lack of sleep,” he said.

“I eventually sought help and was diagnosed with PTSD. I have received counselling for this and although the memory is still with me, I try not to let it affect me.”

Recalling what happened, PC Johnson said he was sent to investigate reports of a man acting strangely in a shop.

“There was no-one else available, so I attended.”

He was attacked by the knifeman while trying to rescue a shopkeeper.

“I tried to keep him calm, but after a few minutes he produced a large kitchen knife from his pocket and moved towards me with it.”

The 49-year-old works as a response officer and said: “I have been on this unit since 2009, and it has shrunk from 18 to 20 officers down to about 10.

“It’s incredibly frustrating not being able to do the job that I still love. I joined to help people and catch criminals and prevent crime, but I spend most of my time dealing with concerns for safety.”

Read the full story here: (BBC News)