Assaults on police: courts urged to use full sentencing powers

13 January 2020

New statistics reveal that 20,000 people were prosecuted for assaults on emergency service workers in the 12 months to November 2019, with police officers being the victim in 90 per cent of cases.

The figures were released by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) which said it had prosecuted more than 50 assaults a day in the first year of legislation making attacks on emergency service workers a specific offence.

It has now issued new guidelines reminding the courts to use their full sentencing powers to punish those who assault police officers and also deter others in a move welcomed by Hertfordshire Police Federation chair Geoff Bardell.

“The Police Federation of England and Wales launched its Protect the Protectors campaign a couple of years ago to raise awareness of the growing number of attacks on police and other emergency service workers and seek not just tougher sentencing for those guilty of these assaults but also better protective equipment for officers,” says Geoff.

“As a result of the campaign, the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act was introduced and came into effect in November 2018. Sadly, since that time and despite the tougher sentences now available, we have continued to see an increase in these assaults. On Christmas Day alone nine Hertfordshire officers were assaulted, with three being spat at. This is totally unacceptable. We must now ensure that the courts impose the harshest punishments possible for those who attack police officers and other emergency service workers.”

Between November 2018 and November last year, almost 20,000 offences were charged under the new act with three quarters being assault by beating. The first cases to go through the courts also show a conviction rate of 90 per cent.

In addition to publishing the statistics for the first year under the new act, the CPS has launched a new set of guidelines reminding magistrates to use their full sentencing powers and also stating that victims’ views should be taken into account when pleas to other offences are accepted or cases discontinued.

The new guidance aims to ensure prosecutors seek the maximum sentence in court and play any body-worn video footage and underlines the requirement to treat assaults committed on bail or licence as an aggravating factor.

National Federation chair John Apter has welcomed the CPS stance, saying: “It is good to see the CPS recognising that the current system is not working and issuing new guidelines for prosecutors.

“Now I urge magistrates to do the right thing and heed any advice passed down to them; and to use their full sentencing powers so the law provides the deterrent and punitive effect it was intended to.”

At the Federation’s centenary celebration event in London in November, Home Secretary Priti Patel said she would double the maximum sentence under the new act from 12 months to two years and John has said he will be discussing officer assaults when he meets her in the coming weeks.