A KNIFEMAN attempted to stab a police officer through the open window of his patrol van in an attack on Newcastle's Tyne Bridge last night.

Officers used a Taser to restrain the 23-year-old man, who was today in custody.

The officers were on patrol just before midnight on Friday when they came across a man who was walking in the middle of road on the Tyne Bridge and was in danger of being knocked down by traffic.

A Northumbria Police spokesman said: "The driver of the police vehicle wound down his window to warn the man of the danger he was in when the man attacked the officer through the window of the police van with knives.

"The police officer was uninjured due to the protective stab vest he was wearing and warnings shouted by colleagues.

"Due to the risk to police officers, members of the public and the man himself senior officers authorised the use of Taser in order to restrain the man.

"A 23-year-old man has been arrested and remains in police custody."

Chief Superintendent Jim Campbell said: "This man was armed with a knife and threatening police officers, it was only down to the fact that the police officer was wearing protective clothing and the warnings shouted by his colleagues that he did not receive more serious or even fatal injuries.

"There is simply no excuse for anyone to be carrying a knife in public places and no reason to do so, self defence is not an excuse. I would like to reiterate that knife crime is not as significant a problem in the Northumbria Police Force area when compared to other areas in the UK.

"However, we acknowledge that incidents like this raise the concerns of members of the public. We listen to the public and are responding to those concerns.

"The Chief Constable has previously called for a total ban on carrying all pointed weapons, including knives in public places with mandatory prison sentences for offenders.

"Whenever anyone is found carrying a knife they are charged with the more serious offence of "possession of an offensive weapon" which carries with it stricter penalties and full use is made of stop and search and violent criminals are targeted for attention.

"Tasers are used to control and stop a threat without resorting to conventional firearms. It's a less lethal option and for the added protection of the public as well as officers.

"The effects are instantaneous but only last as long as the charge is applied. The prime aim of using tasers is to bring an incident to a safe conclusion without any injury or loss of life, which has proved true in this incident."