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20 TOP COVER SPRING 2024

IN THE LINE OF FIRE

Former Met Sgt Mark Newman on the terrifying events of April 1999, when
he and colleague Steve Cox came under fire from ‘gun nut’ George Knights

On 28 April 1999 I was on a late turn shift from Hampton Expecting a decamp we readied to continue pursuit on
Traffic Garage (TDT); the weather was bright and sunny, foot. However, the driver stood next to the driver’s door of
and after some admin myself and my partner Steve Cox set his car holding a Glock 9mm handgun levelled at us. He
off towards the M3. To help put that date into perspective it opened fire with a volley of eight rounds, striking the front
was the day after the murder of Jill Dando in Fulham. of our car. The first of many expletives came forth before he
I was driving a Land Rover Discovery V8, call sign returned to his car and once more made off at pace.
Ox523. Around 4pm we were heading along Hampton
Road East toward the A316 when my attention was drawn He stood holding a Glock 9mm
to a Vauxhall Cavalier with a single male occupant, I could “ handgun levelled at us. He opened
see that the Tax Disc had expired in the October of 1998.
The car passed under the A316 toward Feltham and I asked fire with a volley of eight rounds,
Steve to put on the lights and two-tones to stop the car. striking the front of our car.
The driver complied and pulled over almost immediately. I
pulled in behind while Steve went to the passenger side and
With an active pursuit on the main channel other units
beckoned for the driver to join him. I started the necessary
were keen to assist, but now shots had been fired the stakes
PNC checks.
had been raised. We continued pursuit, Steve making it clear
The driver decided to hit the gas and make off; Steve
that live rounds had been fired at us. The driver stabbed at
jumped back in the Discovery and we were off, Steve
his brakes before sharply accelerating then braking again
going onto the main channel with an active. He started
as if to say, stay back. He leaned out of the driver’s window
his commentary as I tried to catch the fleeing Cavalier. I
and pointed the Glock back toward us before firing two
remember seeing smoke from the tyres as the driver locked
further shots from about 15m. I clearly remember the
up and turned violently into Hounslow Road where he
rounds striking our car, to this day I was unsure what made
stopped in the middle of the road.
us continue.

Some of the weapons used (above) – and spent bullets recovered (above right) – after fleeing gunman George Knights
opened fire on officers Mark Newman and Steve Cox as well as shooting at other police vehicles.

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