FESTIVE city shoppers have been praised for going above and beyond the call of duty to swoop in and help an off-duty officer in his bid to detain a suspected shoplifter in the heart of Worcester.
Grateful members of the city’s police have paid tribute to those who sprang into action during a dramatic chase which took place at about midday last Wednesday (December 19).
After a short chase on foot along St Swithin’s Street and Mealchepen Street by off-duty officer Rowan Boyle, Christmas shoppers responded to Boyle’s shouts to ‘detain that man’ and helped to restrain a man on the floor until the off-duty officer made the arrest.
The scene was witnessed by a number of shoppers and speaking afterwards, PC Boyle said: “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of the public who helped.
“We as officers really appreciate the public’s support. We do our job to keep our communities safe and should the members of the public not have stepped in when they did to help me there is a possibility that the suspect would have evaded justice.
“I appreciate the level of bravery it takes to intervene in something which is unfolding in front of your eyes, and wanted to let the public know that a man was arrested and charged.”
* Matthew Cushing, 39, of Teme Road has been charged with theft from a shop and obstructing a police constable in the execution of his duties
