CJS must get tough on officer assaults, says Federation secretary

14 July 2020

Changes to the maximum jail sentence for offenders who assault police and emergency workers must be backed up by the criminal justice system, says Hertfordshire Police Federation secretary Al Wollaston.

Al welcomed the launch of a Government-led consultation into doubling sentences for those who attack blue light workers.

“It’s a chance to send out a powerful message to our members and their emergency worker colleagues that attacks on them won’t be tolerated,” Al said.

“During the pandemic we’ve seen an increase in the number of assaults in which the coronavirus has been used as a weapon with people spitting or coughing at officers while claiming to be ill.

“This is all totally unacceptable and should sicken everyone in society, which is why I welcome the review as the current one-year maximum prison sentence for these offences doesn’t appear to be acting as a suitable deterrent or punishment.

“But any change has to be backed up by the courts if we are to see these people deterred from attacking officers.”

The four-week review into the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 was launched by justice secretary and Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland and Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday.

The act itself was introduced in November 2018 after the Federation’s successful high-profile Protect the Protectors campaign.

John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation, has also welcomed the consultation and reiterated his calls for more consistency in sentencing.

He said: “The Police Federation has been relentless in pushing for an increase in maximum jail sentences for those who attack emergency workers.

“However, any further increases in sentencing could be meaningless without the full support of the courts. This should include consistency of sentencing, which is not the case at this time.

“Assaulting a police officer is completely unacceptable and there must be a suitable deterrent. I accept there will always be times where an offender does not receive a custodial sentence. However, this must be the exception and not the norm,” he added.