Constable attacked 7th of May 1930

On the 7th of May 1930 (82 years ago to the day) a very brave NSW police officer, Constable Clinch was attempting to arrest two young men who had allegedly been assaulting a Taxi driver. One of the men resisted arrest however he was able to arrest the other.


A Taxi driver was attacked at the corner of George St and Quay Streets early in the morning by two men that tried to rob him. The Taxi driver refused to hand over the money whereupon both men attacked him. Constable Clinch heard the commotion and went to assist the driver, unfortunately both men turned on him. During the ensuing scuffle the Constable was thrown several times. One of the men was able to grab the Constable's baton form his hip pocket and struck him on the head inflicting a gash to his forehead. Despite this and the fact blood was flowing down his face Constable Clinch hung onto the one of the men until he was able to handcuff him. 


The arrested man was apparently a professional boxer and was charged with demanding money with menace and assaulting the Taxi driver, assault police and carrying an unlicensed pistol (He was lucky he wasn't shot).  It is not often today that police work 'one' out.  Many of the situations that they would have had to deal with as a single unit. Constable Clinch ended up being taken to the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital suffering from concussion.  From what I have researched he ended up working in Rose Bay.  There is a story about him assisting a woman attempting suicide at the 'Gap' in the early 40's
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Source

1930 'CONSTABLE ATTACKED.', The Sydney Morning Herald(NSW : 1842 - 1954), 7 May, p. 14, viewed 7 May, 2012, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16700598