Off-Duty PCs Brave Burglary and Needle Attack
PC Christi Hill and her partner, PC Tristan Parsons—then a PCSO—were off duty on the night of October 28, 2018, when they caught a burglar red-handed at a closed hairdressing salon.
The man had smashed his way in with a golf club, leaving broken glass scattered across the floor. As the officers approached, the suspect threatened bystanders with the club, trying to make a quick getaway.
Brutal Struggle in Broken Glass
The couple jumped into action, wrestling the man to the ground. Their fight rolled amid shards of glass until a member of the public jumped in to help.
In a chilling moment, the suspect stabbed PC Hill in the finger with a hidden hypodermic needle, shouting that he was “infected with HIV.” Despite the threat, the trio managed to subdue and arrest him.
Police Federation Praise Acts of Heroism
Hampshire Police Federation Chair Zoe I hailed the pair as “worthy bravery nominees.” She said, “Once again this incident shows how police officers are truly never off duty. Christi and Tristan ran towards the danger and had to act quickly to detain this man.”
“They had no personal protective kit and no immediate back-up. Stopping this from becoming much worse is a real credit to them and in the finest tradition of British policing. As a Federation and as a force, we are very proud of them.”
Delayed National Police Bravery Awards to Honour Heroes
The 25th National Police Bravery Awards, originally set for summer 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic, will now take place on October 12. The event celebrates outstanding acts of courage by officers across England and Wales—like the heroic efforts of Hill and Parsons.
