BJ HARRINGTON Chief Constable of Essex Police

SINCE I became Chief Constable in 2018, I have seen some of my officers stabbed, doused in petrol with a baying mob calling for them to be set on fire, run over, kicked, stamped on, punched, spat at, threatened…I could go on.

In Essex, while the number of offences is higher than the actual number of officers assaulted (many offences may occur and be recorded during one incident) the number of individual officers being attacked is nonetheless disgusting and unacceptable.

Let’s not forget, police officers are made of strong stuff. They join the job knowing they will run into the face of danger, that they will see traumatic things, and many of my officers turn up for their next duty a matter of hours after they have been attacked.

The pandemic has created a policing challenge like no other.

Officers have had to enforce legislation, the likes of which we have never seen before. It has been challenging for us all.

We are hugely grateful to our criminal justice partners who continue to support us…and also to the government for the assaults on emergency worker legislation, which created the specific offence to deal with this issue. But there is more to do and I know I speak for everyone right across policing when I say we support the excellent campaign by Lissie Harper for Harper’s Law to create automatic life sentences for those who kill emergency service workers.

I don’t doubt many officers are anxious when they pick up their warrant card, and families dread the knock on the door.

I must also say that the growing level of attacks and violence against police is a constant worry.

I am also concerned that this will cause a knock-on for police recruitment.

It may well do – particularly against the backdrop of another freeze on police pay, which is a bitter pill to swallow.

I know I have painted a bleak picture, but the figures speak for themselves. And let me ask one thing of you, our public – stand with us and up for us. When you see us in the street say hello… show us the support you always do because the public are the police and we are the public.