The Government has “fingers in their ears” over the shocking increase in attacks on officers, Leicestershire Police Federation has warned.

There were a staggering 48,888 assaults on UK officers over the past year - meaning an officer is assaulted on average every ten minutes in England and Wales.

That is 134 attacks a day.

Andy Spence, Chair of Leicestershire Police Federation, said: “These numbers are a sad indictment about how dangerous policing is. Police officers do not come to work every day to be assaulted, yet sadly the numbers keep on going up.

“Every year we say to the government about how dangerous policing is, and every year they have their fingers in their ears.”

Andy called for more protection for officers and more effective punishment for violent offenders.

“Just this week we have heard about an officer who was just doing their job and has ended up in hospital with serious injuries. The knock-on effect to them is not only felt by their partner, by their families, by their friends and loved ones, but also by their colleagues who are exposed to the trauma of seeing this horrendous assault,” he said.

The attack will also mean one less officer on the beat, leaving the community affected.

"Assaults are becoming a daily occurrence, and the assaults are becoming more and more serious. We are seeing knives, we’ve heard of officers being spat in the eye with blood. We’ve heard of colleagues being bitten and treated with dangerous weapons. It is so dangerous out there.”

Andy called for more officers on the beat so that colleagues can be better protected and more effective deterrents.

“It is not appropriate that when somebody has been assaulted and hospitalised, the offender walks out of court,” he said.

Andy also praised efforts to bring about a new honour for officers injured on duty alongside the Elizabeth Emblem.

“We have officers classed as medically unfit to work ever again, because they have put their lives on the line to serve and protect their community. It is only right and only fitting that they are honoured and not forgotten, that we recognise the sacrifice that they have given and the service that they have given over their career,” he added.