Injured police officer was due to collect award

Mar 19 2008 By Tony Deeley

A POLICE officer who was seriously injured when a van was deliberately reversed into him had been due to collect a life-saving award on the same day.

Pc Robin Haddock, aged 29, from Sutton Coldfield, remains in a "critical, but stable" condition in hospital following the incident which is being treated as attempted murder.

Pc Haddock was on patrol with another officer in Sneyd Lane, Bloxwich at about 3.40 am yesterday and was about to question the driver of a white van which had gone through red lights.

As he climbed out of the driver’s seat of the patrol car, the van reversed into the vehicle and struck PC Haddock, who suffered serious head injuries. Chief Supt Jo Byrne, commanding officer at Bloxwich police station, revealed Pc Haddock had been due to pick up an award at the Tally Ho West Midlands Police police training centre last night.

The award, given by the Society for the Protection of Life from Fire, was in recognition of his heroic role in an incident at Brownhills on April 25 last year.

PC Haddock had gone to the aid of two colleagues after a suicidal man, having already doused himself with petrol, had thrown some over the officers and set it alight.

Chief Supt Byrne said PC Haddock, who has been in for the force for 20 months, formerly served in the RAF and worked as an electrician.

“His colleagues are very saddened by what has happened. He is very popular among his team, is highly motivated and very well regarded. His family are at his bedside and being supported,” she said.

The police chief said that a second male officer who was in the police vehicle when the van reversed was not injured.

Inquiries were continuing to trace the van, which was driven off towards High Street after the collision.

“We are investigating the incident as attempted murder,” she added.

Anyone who may have seen the incident or has information about the vehicle should contact Bloxwich Police Station on 0845 113 5000.