Tough Sentences Needed for Those Assaulting Police Officers

5 October 2024

“The sentences for those who assault police officers need to be harsh… because of this mindless violence, Cleveland Police has lost one of its most highly regarded, experienced and hard-working officers from its ranks.”

The Chair of Cleveland Police Federation, Paul Crowley, was commenting on yesterday’s court hearing where five men were collectively sentenced to a total of over 20 years in prison for their roles in an incident that left a Cleveland Police officer unable to work again.

At 2.40am on 26 November 2023, two officers responded to a report of a vehicle on fire in Hemlington, Middlesbrough. When they arrived, they were set upon by a group of young men who threw bricks and bottles at them.

One of the officers, Sgt Steve Bolsover, suffered facial injuries and a serious hand injury that required surgery. His hand has been left with muscle loss, and he suffers from continuing pain and discomfort. He has since been unable to work due to his hand injury and subsequent complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Sgt Bolsover said: “My grip strength has been significantly affected in that I struggle to hold things, and I am unable to close my hand since surgery. I have been informed that this can take up to two years to heal, and that it may never heal fully.

“The nerve in my hand is not fully repaired, as the area is still numb and I get persistent pain in my forefinger, thumb and wrist.”

On his PTSD, Sgt Bolsover said: “I can’t bear to hear police sirens and have difficulty being around anything to do with policing as a direct result of the attack.

“As a result of this assault I have been referred to the senior medical practitioner for medical retirement. In short, the actions of these people have destroyed my life, my career, and I’m left with life-changing and debilitating injuries as a direct result of their deliberate actions.”

Cleveland Police Federation Chair Paul Crowley has worked directly with Sgt Bolsover and described him as “one of the best officers I've ever worked with in my nearly 20 years in policing."

"Sgt Bolsover's professionalism, tenacity and experience are second to none, and I am confident when I say that, over the years, he has inspired countless other officers to follow in his footsteps."

Paul continued: “The sentences for those who assault police officers need to be harsh. They should send out a clear message that we will not stand for any officer being assaulted in any capacity whatsoever. The sentencing needs to be strong and consistent, in order to create a deterrent.

“Because of this mindless violence, Cleveland Police may lose one of its most highly regarded, experienced and hard-working officers from its ranks. We need to protect our officers in order to make sure that we keep that experience on our streets.

“My thoughts are with Sgt Bolsover and his family."

Paul said the Government should understand that police officers were facing dangers every day, not just during the mass unrest of the summer.

He said: “The Government needs to recognise the dangers and challenges that police officers are facing in this country. We faced widespread disorder and riots over the summer, but it needs to be recognised that this incident emerged from the sort of incident that police officers get sent to daily up and down the country.

“We saw robust sentencing after the summer riots, but we now need to see that same robust sentencing when determining outcomes for officer assaults. The Government, and those imposing sentences, need to recognise that this is not acceptable and must now demonstrate their willingness to create a deterrent from officer assaults, by imposing sentences that serve as an absolute punishment for such abhorrent actions."