How assaults on police have soared during the pandemic

ASSAULTS on police officers in Leicestershire rocketed during the pandemic.

New government figures show that between April 2020 and March 2021, there were 692 assaults against Leicestershire officers.

That equates to about 13 assaults a week and was an increase of 57 per cent on the 440 cases in the previous year.

Of the reported attacks, 181 resulted in an injury – up 166 per cent from 68 the year before.

The figures cover assaults on officers that are recorded as crimes and that involve violence but many more that do not result in an injury are believed to go unreported.

The rise in Leicestershire was far bigger than the national jump. In England and Wales, the total number of assaults in the year beginning April 2020 was 36,969, up by 14 per cent.

Police Federation chairman John Apter said: “Throughout the pandemic we have witnessed police officers being subjected to a disgusting level of violence.

“We now have the figures to prove just how dire the situation has been for my colleagues on the ground.

“More than 100 of my colleagues are assaulted every single day – that’s a staggering number and something society must not accept.

“Many of these recorded attacks involve vile individuals who have spat on or coughed at police officers, weaponising the virus and threatening to spread it to them and their families.

“The sentencing guidelines have been changed and I would urge judges and magistrates to use these powers to set an example to those who are assaulting our colleagues, those responsible must spend time in prison.

“This unjustified violence is a stain on society and needs to be dealt with robustly.”

Figures have only been recorded for the past four years, since a new crime classification for “assault with injury on a constable” was introduced on April 1, 2017.

The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 means anyone found guilty of assaulting a police officer, firefighter, prison officer or paramedic faced up to 12 months in prison. Judges must also consider tougher sentences for more serious offences – such as GBH or sexual assault if the victim was an emergency worker.

The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill going through parliament includes a provision to double the maximum penalty for assaulting an emergency worker to two years.

A Home Office spokesman said: “Our brave police officers go to work every day to protect the public and being attacked should never be part of the job.

“Anyone who commits these despicable assaults should expect to face the full force of the law, which is why we are doubling the maximum sentence.

“This year, as well as continuing to recruit 20,000 police officers, we will enshrine a police covenant in law to provide better support for our selfless officers, staff, and their families – one of the key areas will be physical protection of officers.”

More than 100 of my colleagues are assaulted every single day – that’s something society must not accept.

John Apter