Brave PC Mat Evans Tackles Knifeman in London
PC Mat Evans, a West Midlands officer with over 20 years on the force, was in London when he witnessed Mohammed Uddin stabbing a man in the chest outside Royal London Hospital on 12 October 2019. Without hesitation, Evans stepped between the victim and the attacker, flashing his warrant card to identify himself as a police officer.
Rugby Tackle Hero Stops Knife Attacker
Uddin tried to flee, but Evans chased him down. Using his rugby skills, he rugby tackled Uddin to the ground and wrestled the knife away from him. Evans’s quick thinking and bravery stopped what could have been a fatal attack. Uddin, 36, was later sentenced to more than 12 years behind bars.
Triple Honours for Courageous Officer
For his outstanding bravery, PC Evans received a Met Police bravery award and a National Police Bravery Award. Last week, he clinched a third honour — the Pride of Birmingham Award for Emergency Services.
“Thankfully when I confronted Uddin he ran… but then your police brain kicks in yelling ‘catch the bad guy’,” Evans recalled. “Years of rugby training come in handy when you want to put a bad guy on the deck. I knew I had to control the knife because there was no doubt he’d turn it on me next.”
“He was struggling violently and pulling on my beard… that’s what angered me most! Incidents like this make you realise being a police officer isn’t a job, it’s a state of mind you can never turn off, even when not at work.”
“It’s a real honour to receive a Pride of Birmingham award. But I know many officers do equally brave things every day. I’m no better or braver than them.”
Fighting Crime on Birmingham’s Streets
Back in Birmingham, PC Evans’s “day job” involves chasing robbers and pickpocket gangs plaguing city centres nationwide. For more than a decade, he has led major operations sharing intelligence between police forces across the UK.
His work has helped cut pickpocket crime in Birmingham city centre by nearly a quarter, putting countless thieves behind bars and making the streets safer for everyone.
