POLICE officers are becoming society\u2019s punchbags, the Chairman of West Yorkshire Police Federation has told the Police Federation Annual Conference.<\/p>\n
Leading a session on the ongoing #ProtectTheProtectors campaign, Nick Smart (pictured) said there must be a deterrent to stop people assaulting officers.<\/p>\n
Having asked delegates to raise their hand if they had been assaulted on duty, he said: \u201cOur officers are becoming society\u2019s punchbags. There is no deterrent. If there is no deterrent, how are people going to change their behaviour?<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to have a deterrent or people are not going to stop what they are doing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe vast majority of MPs believe officers should be protected. We have drafted legislation for the Home Office on police assaults \u2013 it\u2019s ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nick was joined at conference by Labour\u2019s Holly Lynch, who has helped to draft the proposed legislation on sentencing changes.<\/p>\n
She told the conference: \u201cTo assault a police officer shows complete disregard for law and order.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe [MPs] make the laws and we ask you to uphold those laws. If you are not safe, our communities are not safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delegates also heard from a number of officers who had been assaulted on duty, some of whom were calling for a service-wide introduction of spit guards after being spat at.<\/p>\n
One officer said: \u201cI had spit dripping off my face. It was disgusting.\u201d<\/p>\n
Delegates also heard one officer recall being spat at 24 times in a single day.<\/p>\n