https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12271447/Brave-female-PC-scarred-life-run-trying-arrest-drugs-suspect.htmlBrave female PC scarred for life when she was run over trying to arrest drugs suspect says judges must crack down on criminals who attack police
PC Sam Woods was struck by a car in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, on June 2
The officer, who was arresting a drugs suspect, suffered a gash to the head
By Mark Branagan
Published: 15:58, 6 July 2023 | Updated: 15:58, 6 July 2023
A policewoman who was scarred for life after being mown down while attempting to arrest a suspected drug dealer has spoken of her ordeal for the first time. PC Sam Woods shared pictures of the shocking head wound after a car slammed into her in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, last month. The officer, who works on the drugs team in town, suffered a bloody gash to her forehead which required stitches and left her with a scar. There were also other injuries to her leg and arm. PC Woods says she did not immediately realise how badly she had been hurt during the incident on Friday June 2. She said: 'It all went black and then it was like I was back in the room. It was a weird feeling, because I didn't feel any pain in my head. But when I put my hand on my head I could feel liquid. I pulled my phone out and took a picture, so I could see what injuries I had. When I saw the gash, I thought, "This is quite serious". Luckily, an ambulance was with us within a couple of minutes. They didn't know if I had any spinal injuries, so treated it quite seriously. They bandaged my head up, and I was feeling confused and a bit dazed at that point. There were injuries to my leg and arm as well, but no bone damage I just had torn muscles and bruising. My scar has healed really well. People come up to me and say "oh you won't even see it, it's fine". But inside, I feel, "but you can see it. It's always going to be there, and it shouldn't be there."'
She struggled to sleep after what happened and suffered from headaches and brain fog. Although she had returned to work, but is still not fully fit for duty, and is nervous about ging back on the front line. PC Woods said: 'It's one of those situations where it couldn't really be avoided in the job that I do. It could easily happen again. I didn't want to show my mum the picture of my head to start with, because now she'll phone me sometimes, and say "how's work been today?" I think it gave my parents a shock that I potentially might not come home from work.'
PC Woods has since visited the House of Commons to discuss the dangers of policing and to campaign for tougher sentences for offenders. She met with MP Holly Lynch, one of the leading campaigners for the Assaults On Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018. But PC Woods claimed 'Protect the Protectors isn't working' and tougher sentences are needed for assaults on police officers, adding: 'It's going to get worse and worse, as people think they can get away with it, because the sentences aren't there. I think that, in recent years, policing has become a very hard job to do without it being dangerous, because the respect for the police has gone. I wanted to talk to MPs because this happens day in and day out, and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I want to tell them about the dangers we face as police officers. I'm quite lucky, I work on a small team and we always work double-crewed. But I know from being a frontline officer and single-crewed that it's dangerous. I don't know what it's going to take before MPs realise the dangers we have to put ourselves through. We're normal people. I go to work and do the job because I love it. But when things like this happen, you think: is it worth putting yourself through that for a job?'
PC Woods grew up in Wakefield and said she wanted to help combat the drug problem there, especially as she had lost school friends after they had become addicted to heroin. I know the effects it can have on people,' she said. 'We're never going to get rid of drugs altogether. But even if it's just helping one or two people and getting them out of that situation. It's not about the money, because we don't get paid brilliantly. But I do it because I love the job. I love helping people and bringing people to justice.'
West Yorkshire Police Federation chair Craig Nicholls said he had brought PC Woods to Parliament to meet Ms Lynch as it was really important that the MP could see the injury to police officers that happens every single day. There's been a loss of connection between the legislation and the Ministry of Justice,' he said.
'We want to emphasise that message to Parliament and those key people who can drive that legislation with the Ministry of Justice.'
Mr Nicholls added: 'The timescales for police officer assaults getting to court are getting longer and longer too. We're seeing officers being let down, time and time again. Sam is a really good, conscientious officer who's gone to work to do her job, and has ended up with a significant head injury. I want MPs to see that Sam is a real person, a member of the community, and somebody who is trying to do her best within the area that she works.'
