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Man quizzed over officer attack Man quizzed over officer attack
(about 3 hours later)
Police are continuing to question a 63-year-old man over the stabbing of a police community support officer(PCSO) in Greater Manchester.Police are continuing to question a 63-year-old man over the stabbing of a police community support officer(PCSO) in Greater Manchester.
The 47-year-old officer had been helping a housing organisation to serve an eviction in Stalybridge on Monday when he was stabbed in the neck. Gary Etchells, of Glossop, Derbyshire, had been helping a housing organisation serve an eviction notice in Stalybridge when he was stabbed in the neck.
Greater Manchester Police said he remains critically ill in Tameside General Hospital. Greater Manchester Police said the 47-year-old was still critically ill in Tameside General Hospital.
He underwent a second operation last night and is in intensive care. He underwent a second operation on Monday night and is in intensive care.
The PCSO, who has not been named, was attempting to serve an eviction notice on a man at Elizabeth Avenue, when the attack took place. The PCSO, who has four children aged between nine and 19, was attempting to serve the notice on a property at Elizabeth Avenue, when the attack took place.
Staff and bailiffs representing New Charter Housing Association had requested a police presence while they carried out the eviction.Staff and bailiffs representing New Charter Housing Association had requested a police presence while they carried out the eviction.
The 47 year old was helping to serve an eviction notice
Deputy Chief Constable Dave Whatton, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Police officers and the local police community support officer had arranged to attend while the eviction was being carried out.Deputy Chief Constable Dave Whatton, of Greater Manchester Police, said: "Police officers and the local police community support officer had arranged to attend while the eviction was being carried out.
"The police community support officer arrived before the police officers."The police community support officer arrived before the police officers.
"A conversation then took place between those present from the housing association and the police community support officer and a man."A conversation then took place between those present from the housing association and the police community support officer and a man.
"A short time later the man came out of the house and attacked those present."A short time later the man came out of the house and attacked those present.
"He lunged with a knife and cut the police community support officer on the neck.""He lunged with a knife and cut the police community support officer on the neck."
Body armour
Greater Manchester Police are still questioning a 63-year-old man arrested on suspicion of wounding.Greater Manchester Police are still questioning a 63-year-old man arrested on suspicion of wounding.
The officer, who is among some 7,000 PCSOs across the UK, was not wearing a stab-proof vest or body armour at the time of the attack. Mr Etchells, who is among some 7,000 PCSOs across the UK, was not wearing a stab-proof vest or body armour at the time of the attack.
Community support officers are uniformed civilians who work alongside regular police constables.
Their job is to carry out high visibility patrols, reassure local communities of a police presence and gather intelligence. In some forces they also help with tasks such as evictions.