Assaults increase by 31 per cent

2 September 2020

A shocking rise in the number of attacks on emergency service workers shows the daily dangers they face on the front-line, according to the chair of Derbyshire Police Federation.

Tony Wetton was speaking after new figures showed assaults on emergency service workers have increased by 31 per cent when comparing July this year to the same period last year.

The figures, released by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, cover the four weeks to 2 August 2020 and have been compared with the same four weeks in 2019.

“It’s shocking to think, particularly when we have just heard that crime has fallen considerably during the pandemic, that people still seem to think it’s OK to assault an emergency service worker while they are going about their duties and continuing to serve their communities despite the risks posed by coronavirus,” he said.

“It is vital to safeguard the physical and mental wellbeing of police officers and their blue light colleagues that courts issue tougher sentences for those who assault emergency service workers – both to punish these offenders and act as a deterrent to others.”

The Federation continues to push for an increase in sentences for those who assault emergency service workers with its ‘Protect The Protectors’ campaign.