Police officer stabbed while attending call on Easter Sunday

43-year-old man in custody after incident in Basingstoke

The officer was taken to North Hampshire Hospital with non-life threatening injuries (File photo) (Getty Images)

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after stabbing a police officer who was attending a call on Easter Sunday.

The incident took place at an apartment block in Churchill Way, Basingstoke, after police received a report of concern for someone’s wellbeing at about 4.30pm.

The officer, who is said to have been attacked inside the building, was taken to North Hampshire Hospital with “non-life threatening” injuries.

A 43-year-old man from Basingstoke has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Alex Charge, chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, said: “This was a despicable attack on a brave colleague and once again shows the daily dangers police officers face while protecting the public.

“Whilst our colleague has been released from hospital, he has suffered some serious injuries and the mental and physical scars will take some time to recover from. All Hampshire Police colleagues are wishing him all the best.

“Hampshire Police Federation will be supporting our colleague as he recovers, supporting his family, and also supporting the officer’s close colleagues who have to carry on the job of policing.”

A federation spokesman confirmed that the officer was “badly injured” after being stabbed in the incident but he had since been released from hospital.

A nearby resident described the incident as “very strange.”

“It’s unusual,” he told the Basingstoke Gazette. “To be honest, the apartments themselves – people are usually friendly and quiet and cause no bother.”

Additional reporting by PA