Watchdog considers whether police officers who got bravery awards for tackling samurai sword man acted too slowly

• Ali Bhatti, 33, was high on drugs when he knifed Irfan Malik, 39, in the chest
• He called 999 three times to say he was armed with a weapon and wanted to kill
• Two officers received bravery awards after tasering him before he fell over

The police watchdog is assessing whether officers given bravery awards for tackling a man wielding a samurai sword could have stopped him stabbing two men.

Ali Bhatti, 33, was high on drugs when he knifed Irfan Malik, 39, in the chest and slashed another man after crashing a motorbike a mile from his home.

He called 999 three times to say he was armed with the weapon and wanted to kill members of the public on October 22 last year.

Two officers received bravery awards after tasering him multiple times before he finally fell to the ground and was handcuffed in Crawley, West Sussex. 

But questions have been raised over whether PC Ryan Oakley and Sergeant James Arrol-Baker could have tackled him sooner instead of waiting for armed back-up to arrive, preventing the stabbings. 

Now the Independent Office for Police Conduct is assessing if any action should be taken following a report by Sussex Police.

Ali Bhatti, 33, (above) was high on drugs when he knifed Irfan Malik, 39, in the chest and slashed another man after crashing a motorbike a mile from his home

Bhatti, from Crawley, who is schizophrenic, was last week given an indefinite hospital order after being found guilty of Mr Malik’s attempted murder and wounding another man with intent.

Bhatti made three 999 calls before he launched his attack warning that he wanted to kill police and making threats against his local mosque.

While still on the phone to police, Bhatti left his house and rode a motorbike through Crawley, crashing the vehicle then walking along the road waving the samurai sword.

Former social worker Mr Malik, 39, recognised Bhatti so went to speak to him with his friend Amjid Yasin, 51.

Bhatti then attacked the pair, leaving Mr Malik with wounds to the chest and forearm, and Mr Yasin with an injury to the shoulder.

PC Oakley and Sergeant Arrol-Baker then arrived and tasered Bhatti, before pinning him to the ground and handcuffing him.

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