Assaults increase by 31 per cent

28 August 2020

A huge increase in the number of attacks on emergency service workers shows the daily dangers they face on the front-line, says the chair of Humberside Police Federation.

Pete Musgrave was commenting on new figures which revealed assaults on emergency service workers have increased by 31 per cent when comparing July this year to the same period last year.

The statistics, 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.

“These despicable attacks have to stop,” says Pete, “It is just not acceptable that police officers and other emergency service workers are society’s punchbags as people’s anger and frustration gets out of hand.

“We need to see courts handing out the toughest possible sentences when these offenders are brought before them. This would punish them appropriately but also send out a strong message that could deter others.”

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

National Federation vice-chair Ché Donald said: “It is vital to safeguard the physical and mental wellbeing of police officers and ensure courts issue tougher sentences for those who assault emergency service workers.”