Steve Baker MP has said his ‘thoughts are with’ the police officer who was shot with a crossbow during an ‘awful’ incident that ‘unsettled the local community’ in Downley.

The village on the edge of High Wycombe was rocked by a violent incident that saw three people, including a policeman, injured on Friday night, May 10.

A 54-year-old man fired a crossbow at a Thames Valley Police officer after stabbing a man in his sixties on School Close between the hours of 6pm and 8pm.

Both the first victim and the injured police officer have been discharged from hospital, but the 54-year-old, who was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, remains in hospital under police supervision.

He is said to be in a stable condition with ‘serious, potentially life-changing injuries’.

Steve Baker, Conservative Member of Parliament for the Wycombe constituency, said his “thoughts are with” both the injured officer and the victim of what he described as an “awful incident”.

Mr Baker added: “I am grateful for the bravery of officers on the scene. We are blessed indeed by their willingness to act in these moments of danger.

“As the Chief Superintendent has said, I would ask local people not to speculate about the incident or share footage on social media. Instead, please contact Thames Valley Police via its website.”

Cllr Mazamal Hussain, who represents the Downley Ward, also said he was “very shocked” by how the events unfolded on Friday night.

He said: “My thoughts and prayers are for all those affected. I am grateful for Chief Superintendent Emma Burroughs and her brave officers who were able to swiftly bring the situation under control.

“I know they are working hard to carry out the investigation and I echo the Chief Superintendent’s words that if anyone has any information or footage relating to the incident on School Close that might help the investigation, please give it to the police.”

Downley residents Darren and Taryn Fourie told the Free Press on Saturday (May 11) that they were “concerned for their children’s welfare” after what they described as a “very scary” scene.

Taryn said: “Riot police were (along the road) with the SWAT team and they started screaming at us to ‘go back’, and my poor child was in the car with me.

“She started screaming, crying and shaking. We drove back and waited (and that’s when) we heard two gunshots. It was terrible.”

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: "Our officers showed incredible bravery by confronting the armed offender and warning members of the public to keep away; they are a credit to the force and the community.

"We are giving all the support we can to the officer who was injured during the incident; he is in good spirits given the circumstances, as are most of those involved in the events of last night, which shows the remarkable resilience of our people.

"From the first call taker in our control room, who was on their first day taking calls, to the rest of the control room involved, to the attending police officers, including armed response and dog handling teams, to everyone helping in the aftermath, I’d like to thank them all for their efforts and for continuing to show impressive levels of resilience and dedication.”

Thames Valley Police has urged anyone who was in School Close, the nearby park or the surrounding area from 5:45pm onwards on Friday, May 11, to get in touch by calling 101 or via the force’s website, quoting reference number 43240217434.