Tough sentences needed for assaults on officers

1 October 2020

Humberside Police Federation chair Pete Musgrave has called for offenders who weaponise Covid-19 in attacking police officers and other front-line workers to feel the full weight of the law.

He was speaking after new figures from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) showed a 29 per cent increase on emergency services workers in the four weeks to 30 August compared to the same period in 2019.

The NPCC said: “The rise may be driven by increases in common assaults on police constables, including suspects spitting on officers while claiming to be infected with Covid-19.”

Pete said: “These figures are shocking. It’s disheartening to see such a steep increase in the attacks on our emergency services workers, the very people who have been working tirelessly during this pandemic to try to keep people safe.

“To spit on officers and use Covid-19 as a weapon is utterly appalling and unacceptable. We need offenders to be given the toughest possible sentences to send out the message that it won’t be tolerated.”

The NPCC figures show that crime trends have returned close to pre-lockdown levels. After a 28 per cent reduction at the height of lockdown, police recorded crime is now three per cent lower than in the same period in 2019.

Mental health incidents were up five per cent in this reporting period, the NPCC said, reported rape saw a four per cent rise and domestic abuse incidents increased by seven per cent.

National Federation chair John Apter said: “The recent return to pre-Covid crime levels comes as no surprise, as during lockdown there were fewer people out and therefore less opportunities to commit crime.

“Regrettably, I am not surprised either to see the rise in the number of call outs for mental health incidents. This has been steadily increasing year on year and the police are often seen as the first port of call when people need help.

“My colleagues will continue to do their job to the best of their ability but, as I have said many times before, there is no magic box of extra officers waiting to be opened, and undoubtedly policing will struggle with this increased demand.”