National Police Campaign Launches To ‘Protect The Protectors’

It is now estimated that an assault on a police officer happens every four minutes*. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This is a shocking statistic that further supports the Police Federation of England and Wales’ call to better protect those who risk their lives to protect us. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Today marks the launch of the Federation’s campaign to ‘Protect The Protectors’, calling for a change in legislation; tougher sentencing; better training and access to equipment; more accurate data on police assaults; and improved welfare support. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Physical and verbal assaults on police officers are commonplace. Incidents are often under-reported and historically it has been difficult to determine the scale of the issue and national picture. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Previously it’s been estimated that more than 23,000 officers are assaulted every year, but now estimations based on our latest welfare survey data suggest that there were potentially more than 2 million (2,113,602) unarmed physical assaults on officers over 12 months, and a further 302,842 assaults using a deadly weapon during the same period. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One of our officers in Gwent, who wishes to remain anonymous, explains what happened to her when her and her colleague spotted a car parked up in a country lane with a known offender in the driving seat: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Because I knew him, I knew he wouldn’t stop. I had to get in the car if I wanted to stop it.” She jumped on to the man’s his lap and tried to turn the engine off to halt his escape. The suspect yelled at his friend to help and both managed to escape from the car. The officer was expecting a chase. Instead one of the suspects caused a distraction by throwing punches at her. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She said: “I remember thinking this is really off. He started punching, but not really trying to connect. I reached for my spray, but the next thing I was hit from behind.” She fell to the ground, unconscious and was found by her colleague in a ditch, where it is presumed the men dragged and dumped her. The officer was treated for bruises and swelling and missed six days of work. The offenders were charged with assaulting an officer but then granted bail, to the disappointment of the PC. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

She added: “When someone is taken to court for assaulting a police officer it seems to be seen as a lesser assault than that of anyone else. The punishments are not severe enough.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chief Constable of Gwent Police, Jeff Farrar added his support to the campaign: “Whilst violence against officers is becoming more common place, this is not something that should ever be tolerated. Police Officers have a difficult enough job and many of my staff comment on the aggression they face when they are just trying to do their jobs. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We should not forget that the police are rightly expected to step forward to protect the public when others step back, but police officers are human beings like everyone else and they shouldn’t have to expect this. I know we enjoy the support of the vast majority of the people in Gwent, and I think they would agree that this behaviour is unacceptable.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​