More than 30 attacks on officers every week

OFFICERS WERE punched, kicked, bitten and spat at during a one-week period, according to figures released by the West Yorkshire Police Federation.

West Yorkshire Police Federation chairman Brian Booth said he had 30 to 50 reports of officers being attacked every week.

“It has a massive effect on our officers, on their mental health,” he said. “Just imagine turning up for work not knowing if you are going to be spat at or bitten.

“It also affects them when they are off-duty. We’ve had officers unable to kiss their children for two months while they wait for Hepatitis C test results because they’ve been spat at.

“Officers are turning up for family weddings with black eyes.”

The most recent figures from the West Yorkshire Police Federation show that 34 police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) were attacked.

Ten were punched, eight were kicked, four were grappled or had bodily force used against them, four were spat at, one officer was bitten and one had an object thrown at them.

Two objects were thrown at PCSOs, one was kicked, while another was hit by a vehicle.

Mr Booth also raised the issues of cuts to police numbers. “We have 800 fewer officers in West Yorkshire compared to 2009 and we just can’t afford to lose one more officer.”

Temporary Chief Constable John Robins of West Yorkshire Police said: “Assaulting an emergency service worker is totally unacceptable. Police officers and staff undertake extremely challenging jobs across some of the busiest and complex metropolitan areas in the country, providing a public service in sometimes in dangerous and difficult situations, so they deserve protection.”

He said West Yorkshire Police fully supports the Protect the Protectors campaign and legislation that makes it a specific offence to assault an emergency service worker.