Police officer is knocked unconscious before female colleague is dragged to the floor

Police officer is knocked unconscious before female colleague is dragged to the floor and stamped on in fight near pub during Black Eye Friday

  • Officers were responding to another call when they spotted fight in Middleton
  • Man and woman rushed to hospital but have since been discharged, police said
  • Tim O’Callaghan, of GMP’s Rochdale division, described the attack ‘disgusting’

A police officer was knocked unconscious and his female colleague was dragged to the floor and stamped on as the pair intervened in a pub fight after Mad Friday.  

The officers had been responding to another call when they spotted a large group of men fighting in Middleton, Greater Manchester at around 2.35am this morning. 

The attack followed a night nicknamed Mad Friday or Black Eye Friday – the last Friday before Christmas – which is often busier than usual for emergency services.

Both officers were rushed to hospital as those involved in the assault fled the scene. They have since been discharged and no arrests have been made, Greater Manchester Police confirmed. 

The officers had been responding to another call when they spotted a large group of men fighting in Middleton, Greater Manchester (pictured) at around 2.35am this morning

Detective Sergeant Tim O’Callaghan, of GMP’s Rochdale division, said: ‘This is a disgusting way to treat police officers, who spend their days and nights trying to keep the people of Greater Manchester safe.

‘We are providing welfare support to the two officers who were attacked after bravely trying to intervene in a large fight and keep the peace.

‘We will not tolerate this kind of behaviour and are 100 per cent committed to bringing those responsible to justice’. 

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman added: ‘The male officer was punched in the head, knocking him unconscious. The female officer was also punched, dragged to the floor and then stamped on.

‘Both officers were taken to hospital but have since been discharged.

‘The offenders fled the scene after the assault.’  

Across the country on Mad Friday, police restrained rowdy partygoers on the busiest night of the year (Pictured: police in Cardiff)

Across the country on Mad Friday, police restrained rowdy partygoers on the busiest night of the year (Pictured: police in Cardiff)

Another officer was seen intervening in a fight in Leeds city centre late on Friday night

Another officer was seen intervening in a fight in Leeds city centre late on Friday night

The force is appealing for anybody who may have witnessed the attack ‘in the early hours’ to come forward to help with the investigation. 

One of the attackers was described as white, of medium build with short brown hair and a beard. He was wearing a dark T-shirt, trousers and trainers.

Another was white, of medium build, around 6ft tall and in his early 30s. He had short dark hair and stubble, and was wearing a black-belted coat, blue or grey jeans with ripped knees and dark shoes.

In a separate incident on Black Eye Friday, a Cleveland Police officer suffered injuries to the face and eye after he was repeatedly punched while on duty.

An unidentified Cleveland Police officer was left with a black eye on Mad Friday

An unidentified Cleveland Police officer was left with a black eye on Mad Friday

The force said it received 315 emergency calls from yesterday into today, and four officers were assaulted as they worked. A total of 31 people were arrested.

Chief Superintendent Emily Harrison, from Cleveland Police, said: ‘One of our officers was repeatedly punched in the face causing swelling to his face and eye. This level of abuse towards our officers is disgusting and the Force will not tolerate it under any circumstances.

‘Each of our officers put their life on the line to protect people living in our communities, they work around the clock every day of the year, including bank holidays, Christmas, and all the holidays where people like to be out celebrating.

‘They do not deserve to treated like this, they deserve the utmost respect when carrying out their duties. Anyone who abuses or assaults our officers will face the full force of the law.’ 

Two further police officers were also assaulted on the busiest night of the year when a brawl broke out in a Wetherspoons in Exeter.

Officers were called to the The Imperial pub at 6.10pm to reports of a fight involving 15 people, Devon Live reported.  

A male and female officer both sustained ‘minor injuries’ in the brawl and four males were arrested as a result of the fight.

‘A large fight broke out involving 15 people. Two officers were assaulted in the process. A male and female officer sustained minor injuries’, a police spokesperson said.

‘As a result four males were arrested; two for being drunk and disorderly, and two for assault on emergency workers.’

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