PEOPLE who assault police officers should expect to receive jail time to help tackle the \u2018inconsistencies\u2019 in sentencing, South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.<\/p>\n
Officers across England and Wales were subjected to more assaults over the past year, many of which were COVID aggravated.<\/p>\n
Officers have been spat at and coughed on alongside being punched, kicked, attacked and assaulted with weapons.<\/p>\n
While some courts began to hand down increased sentences during the pandemic, many assaults on blue light workers have not received the punishment the perpetrators deserve.<\/p>\n
South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent (pictured) said mandatory jail sentences regularly imposed by the judiciary would go some way in deterring would-be assaulters.<\/p>\n
He explained: \u201cWe\u2019re still seeing examples in South Yorkshire of lenient sentences, and we\u2019re seeing them across the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile we welcome the courts\u2019 increased powers and increased sentencing powers until there\u2019s a mandatory sentence that comes with an offence, then this behaviour isn\u2019t going to go anywhere.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand South Yorkshire Police and the senior command team in the force constantly are speaking to the senior people within the Crown Prosecution Service and within the courts in Sheffield to try and make sure that people are dealt with robustly when they\u2019re found guilty of these offences.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut sadly, we still see inconsistencies, and so we just really need that base protection which is what a mandatory sentence would do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officers should be protected as much as possible from the dangers of the job, especially as being assaulted and spat at can leave mental as well as physical scars.<\/p>\n
Steve added: \u201cMandatory jail time is the only way to stop seeing these ridiculous stories of officers suffering life-changing scars and life-changing injuries and the people who did it to them getting away with pretty much nothing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has a massive effect on officer morale. It really angers them, and understandably so.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have a right to be protected in going out and giving up their health and wellbeing to try and protect the public, so they deserve a little bit back.\u201d<\/p>\n
There are huge inconsistencies in sentencing country-wide. While some areas are handing out custodial sentences, in Cornwall, one man was jailed for just 72 days despite biting and spitting at officers; while in Dorset, another spitting assault resulted in a paltry five-week prison term.<\/p>\n