‘Officers don’t sign up to be human punchbags’ says branch chair

10 April 2024

Meetings between Northamptonshire Police Federation and the Force have been held as assaults on officers remain a serious issue.

The chair of Northamptonshire Police Federation Sam Dobbs says police officers ‘cannot and should not expect to be punchbags’, as he calls for ‘better protection for the protectors’.

His comments come weeks after two Northamptonshire police officers were attacked with a knife. A man has since been charged in connection with a knife attack on police officers and was remanded in custody ahead of his next appearance at Northampton Crown Court in May.

“Police officers should expect to be exposed to life in its rawest form, as they deal with some of the most challenging aspects of society. However, they don’t sign up to be human punchbags. They cannot and should not take a beating in any form,” said Sam, adding: “That is why we must prosecute these assaults accordingly.

“It’s also important that we report how the courts deal with such assaults on police officers. We need our members and the public to know that there are consequences to these actions.

The chair of Northamptonshire Police Federation Sam Dobbs.

“I’m very grateful to our local media publications, Northampton Chronicle and Echo, as well as the Northamptonshire Telegraph for making a point of reporting. The public needs to know, they need to hear when our officers are being wrongly assaulted.

“And that is why I continue to share these stories on my social media channels when possible.”

Sam said that in recent weeks, he met with Acting Chief Constable Ivan Balhatchet to discuss the need for society to protect the protectors.

He continued: “Every single day, our officers leave their families, their loved ones and their homes, to go out and protect the public - and that is part of their job. Assaults on officers, however, should not be part of the job.

“Our members shouldn’t head into work, worried that they might be injured while on duty. Their partners, their children and their parents shouldn’t fear a phone call telling them that their loved one is in hospital having been assaulted.”

In the year ending March 2023 there were just over 40,000 assaults on police officers across England and Wales. Of these, 11,000 assaults resulted in an injury.

“Unfortunately assaults on officers are becoming far too common and that needs to change,” Sam ended.

“The correct legislation, procedures and prosecution must be in place for us to better protect the protectors - this needs to be taken seriously. And that is why the Police Federation so vigorously supported making assaults on emergency workers an offence.”