Met detectives have secured justice for a bus driver who sustained serious injuries after being stabbed while driving his route in Tower Hamlets.
Within hours of the stabbing detectives identified the suspect as Bradley Peek (09.09.03), of Jamaica Street E1, using CCTV images and facial recognition technology.
Peek saw a man who was known to him arguing with the bus driver before joining the confrontation where he pulled out a knife and stabbed the driver. He was arrested and subsequently charged with Grievous Bodily Harm with Intent.
As a result of the attack the victim sustained a tear to the heart, fractures to seven ribs and a punctured lung.
The 20-year-old was sentenced to more than five years in prison for the attack which happened at 13:15hrs on Sunday, 18 June in Commercial Road, E1.
Detective Inspector Jonathan Potter, who led the investigation, said: “This was a senseless attack and a huge team effort from officers across the Met to secure justice for the victim.
“The use of facial recognition technology and CCTV footage allowed officers to quickly identify and locate Peek. I would also like to thank colleagues from the Royal London Hospital who performed an emergency operation which ultimately saved the victim’s life.”
Facial recognition technology is used to be more precise in how we tackle crime and identify wanted offenders. It assists the Met in targeting people who are responsible for causing serious violence. More information can be found here.
Siwan Hayward, Director of Security, Policing and Enforcement at TfL, said: “This was an appalling act of violence against our colleague who was just trying to do their job.
“Our staff have the right to do their job without fear or intimidation and we do not tolerate any violence, aggression or threatening behaviour towards them.
“We will always work with the police to push for the strongest sentences possible for offenders, and we’re pleased that the offender has been brought to justice.”