This is a painstaking process with potentially lethal consequences if they are exposed.Philip Etienne was a member of Scotland Yard’s covert operations team but his career ended when he was shot and left for dead in 1994 during a bungled operation to trap a drugs gang. The former policeman, who suffered emotional trauma after the shooting, said many relationships break up because officers spend weeks away from their families.”It’s a hugely demanding job and people now think they can be a uniformed officer and still have a career which is just as successful,” said Mr Etienne, the author of The Infiltrators, which details his time as an undercover policeman.”I did enjoy the work and it’s something very special, but you may be putting your marriage and the welfare of your children at risk.”. The father of a young woman left fighting for her life after being stabbed in front of her baby son spoke movingly yesterday of how the attack had “devastated her life and ours”. He was found clinging to the prone body of Abigail Witchalls after she was stabbed in the neck on Wednesday.He added that Abigail, 26, may never recover from her injuries She was, last night, said to be in a stable condition.

“She’s communicated enough for us to work out that she knows quite a lot about her condition which is very serious and almost certainly disabling,” Mr Hollins said.”Somehow she has the strength of spirit to deal with that. I’m very, very proud of her and most of all about how she is dealing with this. She’s making a tremendous fight of this and we just have to pray for her She still has her sense of humour as well. She’s the Abigail we know.”Recalling the moment he heard of the attack, Mr Hollins told how the family feared the worst, believing Abigail’s chances of survival were “less than 50 per cent”.”All I can remember now is the tremendous shock,” he said.

“She’s getting a bit better now and we know it’s going to be a long and difficult time Life has moved on and fortunately we have some hope. Initially we had absolutely no hope at all.”The police last night said they may try to interview Abigail if doctors approve. A police source said: “If she is able to communicate, then we will, at some point, do that.”Abigail was stabbed with a three-inch blade in the quiet and affluent Surrey village of Little Bookham Joseph was found next to his severely injured mother. He is now staying with his grandparents.Mr Hollins said: “I heard him wake this morning and his first calls were for his mum He doesn’t have many words but he saw what happened What we have no idea of is what effect it has had on him. Only time will tell.”When I left him this morning, he was his little sturdy self: he is a rambunctious little lad.

We hope a large family will help mitigate not being able to see his mother for a while.”The attack, in what is described by one senior police officer as the safest corner of the safest county in England, has left the whole village in total shock.It is a close-knit community where many people knew Abigail. It is the sort of village where people play bridge, go to church and wave to each other on their bicycles. Precision-cut lawns and flawless tulips are a source of pride. Attempted murder is just not meant to happen.”Everybody is shocked. It’s very shattering,” said Sheila Pratt, a businesswoman who lives in a cul-de-sac off Burnhams Road and whose house backs on to the woods.”This is such a nice place to live. It’s the sort of place where you leave the doors and windows open I have always said that I feel safe here Abigail is such a beautiful girl.