‘Assaulted and abused while simply doing their job for public’
POLICE CHIEF REVEALS DETAILS OF ATTACK ON OFFICERS
A POLICE officer was beaten while on the floor unconscious after he tried to make an arrest at a house in Paddock, it has been revealed.
The male officer and a colleague had been called to Royds Avenue to help a woman who was having her car damaged by a male suspect on Thursday night.
As they went to make an arrest inside a house, the two officers were abused and assaulted. One of them was knocked out but was then assaulted further while he was unconscious.
Details of what happened have been revealed by West Yorkshire Chief Constable John Robins who has promised to take tough action against anyone assaulting emergency workers.
Mr Robins said: “On Thursday night, shortly after 8.30pm, two of my police officers went to the assistance of a lady on Royds Avenue in Huddersfield, who was having her car damaged and the male suspect was still at the scene.
“On arrival, the officers quickly assessed the situation and quite rightly went to a nearby address to make an arrest.
“Whilst inside the address, the two officers were abused and were assaulted by the occupants. They were simply doing their job, responding to a call for assistance from a member of the public.
“I do not want to go into any further detail of what happened, so as not to prejudice the criminal justice process.
“But I have to say, one of the officers was rendered unconscious and still assaulted whilst lying unconscious on the floor. If it were not for the swift response of their colleagues, who rushed to help them, I dread to think what the outcome may have been.
“The two police officers were taken to hospital and were given medical treatment for their serious injuries.
“Thankfully they were not admitted, but both will require further treatment for their injuries as out patients, in due course. They are not fit to return to work at the moment, which means there are now even fewer officers to keep our communities safe.
“I have said it before and I say it again – it is wholly inappropriate police officers should be treated in this way. They are there to protect all of us. These two officers were simply and bravely going about their duties, responding to a request for help from a member of the public.
“Police officers and staff work tirelessly to protect the communities of West Yorkshire and any assault against them is simply unacceptable.
“The seriousness of assaulting any emergency worker has been recognised in the sanctions provided by the new Assaults on Emergency Services Act, which was championed by West Yorkshire Police amongst others.
“I have a clear message for anyone who thinks it is okay to assault an emergency worker. I have instructed my officers and staff to take robust and relentless action, and investigations, against anyone who assaults an emergency service worker. I expect the full weight of the law to come bearing down heavily on anyone who chooses to assault an emergency service worker.
“Police officers, police staff and all of the emergency services are there to protect people – to protect society. But they expect and deserve protection too. If we protect our emergency services, then they can protect the public.”
Three men and a woman have been arrested on suspicion of section 18 assault with intent and remained in police custody.