Well done those courageous policemen and women

Agree they were very brave

The footage is horrific, isn't it? I can't understand why the sale of swords, machetes and the like is legal. IMO they should be treated like guns and people should need a licence to own, sell or buy them.

I had no idea they were legal but I suppose I hadn't given it a great deal of thought. Why would anyone need a sword.

Brave police. They often get criticised but they have to deal with some horrific situations. People need to remember this.

Good to see a poster praising the police, the vast majority do a good job and are often called upon to do things that most of us would not be willing or able to do. They are brave and dedicated people who put their own safety at risk every time they are called to an incident but all too often they are lumped together with the few that do not behave like that.

They run towards danger when most of us would run away.

Some of these swords and weapons look just horrendous; the sale of them should be banned.

It’s good to see praise and recognition of the bravery shown on this occasion and many others.
I was reassured the jury decided murder rather than diminished responsibility.

We have three police officers in the family - I was almost in tears watching that footage, so I can only imagine what their families must have felt like to see that. Those officers definitely deserve bravery awards.

Yes, I agree, Sparklefizz.

I remember the event, and those policemen and women, virtually unarmed, rushing towards that man and pursuing him until they had disarmed him.
And people say cannabis should be legalised.

I saw the footage tonight Sparklefizz
It was extraordinary the way the police acted to help the public - going in where most would have fled.
I commend their bravery and appreciate your thread about that. It shouldn't go unoticed.

Another with a police officer in the family.Its heartening to hear praise instead of the usual criticism. Our family member has been involved in 2 serious incidents in a matter of months

Oh yes. That last policewoman who finally tasered him deserves a medal. Especially after seeing her colleagues injured she still went forward. Bravo!

Our family includes a retired policeman, and one serving who has been involved in some of the most dangerous situations that this country has witnessed. I despair when the Police are relentlessly criticised. I would give this country about one hour if the Police Service went on strike - we might then see from the elements that would be coming out of the woodwork in every direction, just what they have to deal with, and what they save us all from.

I saw the footage of that incident.
But I don’t understand why the policeman holding the taser didn’t taser the lunatic before he managed to stab other people.
He could and should, in my opinion have used the taser much sooner.
Instead he just kept shouting at the lunatic who of course took no notice of policeman and continued to stab and injure policewoman.

That right Greciangirl, blame the police

I agree Greciangirl why did the police there think a pepper spray or shouting would do any good to a dangerous killer with a samurai sword?
They had tasers to hand so why not use them at the outset?
Last year there was a case where two police officers were called to a care home as a male resident wouldn’t drop a table knife or a fork ( dementia) and they tasered him.
In my view the police need to look at this samurai killer case and learn from it.

Wow Greciangirl - shame you weren't there to intervene!

From what I'm led to believe, he was initially tasered but it had no effect, and it eventually took several officers all using their tasers to bring him down.

She, and I too are not blaming the police for the samurai killer but for the way they dealt with it at first.It allowed this maniac to stab an officer then go into a house and stab someone else.
Having watched the footage he should have been tasered in the street when he was right in front of them.

They could both have tasered him then followed up with batons.

Pity Oreo wasn't there to advise either!

A Taser has ONE shot which needs to be delivered to the right place to be effect - perhaps that's why they waited to be in a better position for delivery

I don’t think it’s right to always be critical of how police act as they sometimes have a dangerous job to do, but neither do I think it’s right to always praise their actions.

They are trained in using the taser.