Sussex Police praise bravery of PCSO after Crawley assault

A police community support officer (PCSO) has been assaulted in Crawley, say Sussex Police.

The force said it had arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker and assault.

He remains in police custody, according to officers.

The PCSO, who was praised by a senior officer for his “bravery”, was reported to have been assaulted on Thursday at 18:45 BST in Crawley’s Broadfield area.

Dave McLaren, Deputy Chief Constable of Sussex Police, told BBC Radio Sussex he “wouldn’t say [the officer was] ok”.

But he said the PSCO had been released from hospital in the early hours of Friday morning and was recovering at home.

Mr McLaren said he could not discuss the “ins and outs” of what happened as there was an ongoing police investigation, but commented on the officer’s “bravery”.

“PCSOs do not have personal safety equipment,” he said, adding the officer was responding to calls from the public.

Mr McLaren thanked the members of the public who came to the PCSO’s aid during the assault.

Sussex Police urged anyone who saw the incident or has relevant information to contact them.