Teen detained after carrying hunting knife on Tube

A YOUNG MAN from Leyton is in a Young Offenders institution, starting a 14 month sentence handed down at Snaresbrook County Court last week. He had been carrying a hunting knife on the Tube and then resisted arrest.

The offences were committed on the afternoon of Friday, 17th May when police officers from the Leytonstone Safer Neighbourhood Team carried out a search operation at Leytonstone Tube station – looking for drugs and illicit weapons.

One of the passengers they stopped was Hamza Haddadi, 19, of Buttermere Close, Leyton, E15. He initially co-operated with two officers who asked to search him, but then appeared to become agitated. As one of the officers opened the zip on Haddadi’s hoodie, the officer saw a large knife handle.

Haddadi then tried to get away. The two officers tried to stop him and there was a scuffle, during which Haddadi elbowed one of the officers in the face. Other officers joined in and Haddadi was eventually detained and handcuffed, with other officers sustaining minor injuries.

Haddadi was then found to have been carrying a large hunting knife and also a smaller switch blade knife. In Court he admitted two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, two counts of possessing an offensive weapon and a charge of criminal damage.

Superintendent Ian Brown, of the North East Area Command, attended the hearing to support the officers. He said, “This is a stark reminder of the kind of behaviour Met officers have to deal with on a daily basis. Police officers should be able to go about their jobs without fear of assault, but sadly this is not the reality.

“The body worn video was important evidence. It showed how quickly the situation escalated, and how the officers detained an aggressive suspect without endangering the public, whilst remaining calm and composed throughout.

“The court rightly acknowledged the bravery and the professionalism of the officers, with the Judge stating the seriousness with which assaults on officers are viewed. This is a fine example of how we are taking knives and offenders off the streets, and protecting the public. It also shows how our proactive operations directly result in convictions, and often jail sentences.”

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