Officer assaults rise as crime falls

22 June 2020

Worrying new figures have shown that assaults on emergency service workers have increased by 24 per cent despite an overall drop in crime.

Police recorded crime across England and Wales fell by 18 per cent in the four weeks until 7 June this year when compared with the same period last year, according to provisional figures released by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

However, assaults on emergency service workers have increased by 24 per cent.

Commenting on the newly-released figures, Hertfordshire Police Federation chair Geoff Bardell said the overall drop in crime rates were to be welcomed.

“However, the news of a rising number of assaults on emergency services workers is far from welcome. In fact, it shows the lack of respect that a minority of the public have for the work of our brave officers,” added Geoff.

“I am disgusted that certain parts of society think it’s OK to attack the very people who have been putting their lives on the line to protect others during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“And even more appalling is the fact that some of these assaults have taken the form of people coughing and spitting at officers while threatening them with the virus.

“This sort of behaviour is totally unacceptable and I hope the people responsible are brought to justice and presented with the toughest punishment our system can give them. They must be taught a lesson.”

Geoff acknowledged that some of the increase may be down to incidents as a result of the protests in various cities in recent weeks.

John Apter, national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, has also hit out at those carrying out these assaults.

“I do not accept any excuses for this rise - any violence shown towards police officers or any emergency workers must be taken seriously by the criminal justice system and should send the message that this is completely unacceptable,” he explained.

The provisional figures published by the NPCC do show that crime may be starting to increase again.

The 18 per cent fall recorded most recently compares to a 28 per cent fall for the four weeks to 12 April and the 25 per cent fall for the four weeks to 10 May. This is put down to the effect of lockdown restrictions easing and more people being allowed out of their homes, creating more opportunities for criminals.

NPCC chair Martin Hewitt said: “The vast majority of the public have followed the rules in place to limit the spread of the virus and, as a result, we have seen sustained reductions in crime over the course of the lockdown period. It is no surprise that as more people are able to move around freely, we will begin to see movement towards previous levels, however this is a gradual change. We are reassured to still be observing significant falls in crime overall.”