In the heart of the night in 2012, Police Sergeant Tom Ashforth found himself confronted with the harsh reality of knife crime. Responding to a significant knife attack in Swindon, Ashforth, then a PC, was among the first on the scene, where a victim lay with multiple stab wounds.
Reflecting on that night, Ashforth recalls the adrenaline and training kicking in as he rushed to administer first aid, desperate to preserve life amidst the chaos. Tragically, despite his efforts and those of his colleagues and emergency services, the victims succumbed to their injuries.
In the aftermath, Ashforth grappled with the weight of the incident, haunted by the loss of life and the ripple effect of tragedy on loved ones left behind. A person lost their life at the hands of another, which is always a senseless and needless tragedy for everyone involved,” he laments.
Now serving as Neighbourhood Sergeant for Stratton, Central Swindon North, and West, Ashforth speaks out during Sceptre – a national campaign raising awareness of knife crime. Wiltshire Police, among other initiatives, have been actively targeting areas and individuals associated with knife crime, employing specialized equipment like knife arches to deter and detect weapon carrying.
Ashforth emphasizes the importance of first aid training for officers and the wider population, recognizing its potential to save lives in critical situations. He urges parents to engage with their children on personal safety and the dangers of carrying weapons, highlighting the proactive stance of Wiltshire Police in addressing community concerns.
“We don’t want the carrying of weapons to become a normal activity – it has to stop for everyone’s sake,” Ashforth asserts. If you carry a knife or associate with those who do, then it goes without saying that you’re more likely to be involved in an incident where serious harm, or worse, occurs.
As Wiltshire Police continues its intervention programs and initiatives, Ashforth reaffirms its unwavering commitment to tackling knife crime and maintaining community safety.
