Thugs who intentionally injure police officers should receive a mandatory prison sentence, South Yorkshire Police Federation says.<\/p>\n
It followed an LBC investigation finding police, prison officers, doctors, nurses and teachers were assaulted every two minutes in Britain.<\/p>\n
Federation Chair Steve Kent said people\u2019s \u201ccommon sense and decency\u201d had \u201cdegraded\u201d over the past 30 years, no longer fearing the consequences of attacking someone.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cI\u2019m surprised we\u2019re talking about one every 2 minutes. We see them every day coming through the systems in our force.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been assaulted numerous times as a police officer and I\u2019m sure every officer\u2019s the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just not acceptable and I think what the attitude is now is that it\u2019s fair game.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve said a \u201clack of punishment\u201d meant there was no deterrent for offenders and called on the media to do more to highlight the scale of the problem.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cYou\u2019ve got a perfect storm of not enough punishment and also constant attacks and vilification of us [in the press].<\/p>\n
\u201cIt almost seems to justify people that they can behave in this way.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve always said any kind of assault involving injury to an officer – or any of our public sector colleagues – should be mandatory prison.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen people know \u2018Oh dear, if I punch, kick, spit at a police officer or a nurse, I\u2019m going to prison automatically\u2019 – it will spread and it will have the desired effect.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe sentences are there. Make it mandatory and it\u2019ll get dealt with\u201d.<\/p>\n