Public need to know how often police are assaulted

RAISING public awareness could help to prevent police officers from assaults, South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.

A total of 250 police officers were assaulted on duty in South Yorkshire during the last financial year, figures have shown. That is nearly five every week.

Nationally, there were 25,125 assaults – equating to 483 a week or 69 a day.

Zuleika Payne, Chair of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “This is down to a whole raft of issues that needs to be looked at when it comes to officer safety. There needs to be an understanding amongst the community that we serve, that it is of paramount of importance to protect police officers, because ultimately they’re trying to keep the public safe and society safe. Our officers are concerned with the health and wellbeing of the communities that they are serving.

“So lots has to be done in relation to protect the protectors. This is not just about the personal protective equipment that officers carry, but making sure they have adequate training, and in the event of any deployment then officers need support as well. People need to understand why a particular course of action has been taken.

“This is a collective responsibility; for the organisation, the chief and the leadership group to demonstrate the support for frontline officers, and for the Police Federation as well to demonstrate what we are doing, how proactive we are being and the steps that are being taken.”

Labour’s Chris Bryant, MP for the Rhondda, introduced a proposed new law to crack down on attacks on emergency workers last month. The Bill will receive its second reading in the House of Commons in October.

The #ProtectTheProtectors campaign aims to highlight the issue of police officers being assaulted or not receiving the back up of the courts when offenders are found guilty of attacking them.