From the BBC News:

Leyton machete attack: PC was ‘fighting to stay alive’

A police officer was fighting to “stay alive” when he was attacked with a machete during a routine stop in east London, a court has heard.

PC Stuart Outten, 29, was stabbed in the head as he tried to arrest Muhammad Rodwan in Leyton on 7 August last year.

London PC culturally enriched.

Mr Rodwan, 56, of Luton, admits striking the PC but denies attempted murder, claiming it was self defence.

I find this odd since self-defense was outlawed in the UK.  At least for Britons.

PC Outten suffered six wounds to the head, skull fractures, injuries to the arm and broken fingers, the jury has been told.

Giving evidence, the Met PC told the court he was “on the lookout” for traffic offences during a night shift when he came across a “suspicious” white van which he thought could be without insurance.

PC Outten said Mr Rodwan had appeared “extremely angry” at being stopped and tried to make off but he used his leg to stop the 56-year-old closing the van door.

“I tried to say ‘you’re not leaving’ and then the defendant punched me twice to the face,” he said.

The officer told the jury he “grabbed” Mr Rodwan by the belt, neck and dreadlocks “to incapacitate him” but the 56-year-old lunged into the van.

The officer said he then felt “something sharp being snapped against my head” and realised he was being attacked with a 2ft (60cm) long rusty machete.

I guess those knife disposal bins are working fantastic.

PC Outten said he then stumbled away and “gave a quick command of ‘police with Taser’,” before he fired it.

When he was asked why he fired, the officer replied: “To stop myself being attacked with a machete and save my own life.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to zap a guy who was trying to chop my head off with a fucking sword.”

Apparently a cop in the UK defending himself with a less-than-lethal weapon when being attacked with a machete is looked down upon.  Or is that only when attacked by a Muslim?

The Daily Mirror has posted cellphone video of the attack:

In the US that cop would have filled the guy who attacked him with a machete with Gold Dot, and it would have been a good shoot.

The UK is getting to dangerous for London police to keep going around unarmed.