Number of officer assaults are ‘alarming but not surprising’

FIGURES revealing that South Yorkshire officers are assaulted nearly ‘every day’ have not come as a surprise to South Yorkshire Police Federation.

Statistics have revealed that there were 408 assaults on officers from April 2017 to March this year – up from 355 in 2015/16.

Federation Chair Zuleika Payne said the figures may be alarming to some, but those in the organisation wouldn’t be surprised.

“They really emphasise the importance of progressing the Protect the Protectors campaign,” she said.

“We are obviously out there trying to keep the public safe, but we have to make sure our officers are protected while they are doing that.

“The figures are alarming and wholly unacceptable, but I can’t say I am surprised.”

Superintendent Paul McCurry took to Twitter and said “whilst accepting of the facts, this is unacceptable and is nearly a daily occurrence”.

Zuleika thinks the only way to combat the rise in assaults is to reinforce a zero-tolerance stance and to ensure proper deterrents are in place.

She added: “The messaging has to be right, it has to be a zero tolerance stance and we need tougher sentences for the those who carry out these assaults on us.

“When sentences are lenient it sends out the wrong message, giving a sense that it’s not taken seriously, that it’s part and parcel of the job of being an officer, which it isn’t and never should be.

“Assaults on officers and emergency service workers must be taken more seriously with convictions and sentences to match.”