Officers Have Copped Enough: Concern Over The Staggering Levels of Police Assault

27 November 2025

There were a staggering 48,888 assaults on UK Police Officers over the past year - an Officer assaulted on average every 10 minutes.

Average of 134 every day.

39,099 assaults on Officers in England & Wales. 7,159 in Scotland. 2,630 in Northern Ireland.

Lauren Somerville, Chair of Cleveland Police Federation, said: "These statistics are not only extremely worrying but should give you an idea of the colossal amount of high risk situations we are called to or run towards. 134 officers a day are assaulted the numbers are staggering.

"The job is sadly becoming increasingly violent and risky. Officers know and will expect to face violence. The know and are trained to protect the public and themselves however this shouldn’t be the closing statement. The reality is officers have copped enough, the pay doesn’t reflect the real risk to police officers.

"It doesn’t take into account the unique risk of violence officers are exposed to. Nearly two thirds of use of force incidents involved officers protecting themselves from violence. The sad reality is officers are coming to work every day and will expect to be threatened with violence and have to protect themselves or members of the public from being assaulted.

"The Government needs to take into account the truly unique nature of policing now. Not what it was like in years gone they need to look at todays reality for officers and plan for the future. Asking officers to face this kind of violence day in day out on pay that is 21% less than where it should be.

"I must stress that this isn’t taking into account the P Factor. The P Factor recognises that policing carries unique responsibilities, risks, and restrictions that no other profession shoulders in the same way. It’s a critical component in understanding why police pay must reflect not just the job, but the impact the job has on officers’ lives.

"We need a pay that truly reflects what we are really exposed to, the restrictions on our lives and the impact on our families. What we need isn’t asking too much, its fair pay, mandated wellbeing, mental health and trauma support and belief that there isn’t an expectation that assaults shouldn’t be an occupational hazard."