Police officer stabbed in neck

A police community support officer was fighting for his life after he was stabbed in the neck today, police said.

The man, who has not been named, was attacked at about 10.30am while assisting with the eviction of people from a house on Elizabeth Avenue, Stalybridge, Greater Manchester.

The PCSO was taken to Tameside General Hospital for emergency surgery.

A spokeswoman for Greater Manchester Police described the man's condition as "very serious".

She said: "A 63-year-old man from Stalybridge has been arrested on suspicion of Section 18 wounding and is currently in police custody."

Police could not confirm the age of the stab victim and said details of the incident were still being established.

A spokeswoman added the man had been stabbed in the neck with a knife while overseeing bailiffs carry out the eviction of at least one person from a property.

The PCSO was not wearing a stab-proof vest or body-armour. PCSOs can be issued with body-armour but it is a decision made by each force's chief constable.

This policy is being reviewed and PCSOs are expected to be issued with protective vests similar to those worn by police officers. A police spokeswoman said: "The officer has just got out of surgery and is in a critical condition."

His family are understood to have been informed of the incident.

Police were unable to confirm whether any other officers were at the scene at the time of the stabbing or for how long the man had been a PCSO.

The victim is not thought to have received any other injuries during the incident.