THE Government must do more to protect police officers from violence on duty, the Police Minister has been told.<\/p>\n
Holly Lynch, MP for Halifax, (pictured) led an adjournment debate in the House of Commons on 11 October after seeing first hand police officers being attacked.<\/p>\n
Ms Lynch called for an increase in resources to help protect officers, such as spit hoods and Tasers.<\/span><\/p>\n The Labour MP saw one female officer headbutted and a male officer later surrounded when she went on patrol with West Yorkshire Police. She was so concerned for his safety she called 999 for backup.<\/p>\n She blamed policing cuts, the loss of police officers and soft sentences for the 23,000 assaults on police officers across the UK last year. She also called on the Home Office to accurately record police assaults nationally.<\/p>\n She told MPs: \u201cAn assault on a police officer is an assault on society. It is totally unacceptable that a public servant, working in their communities, protecting people, helping the vulnerable should be assaulted as they go about their jobs. Yes there are risks, but being a punch bag should never be part and parcel of the job.\u201d<\/p>\n She also called for a rethink of single-crewing policies. \u201cNumbers matter\u201d, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is no two ways about it. Sending officers out on their own just isn\u2019t working. When it comes to back up, only boots on the ground will do\u201d.<\/p>\n Brandon Lewis, Policing Minister, replied: \u201cLet me be clear. An assault on a police officer is completely unacceptable and anyone who is found guilty should expect to face the full force of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n You can watch the debate again here, from 19:12:\u00a0http:\/\/www.parliamentlive.tv\/Event\/Index\/3d306569-d388-4e89-8858-026823dc94ab<\/a><\/p>\n