Latest assault figures branded ‘appalling’ by Fed secretary

3 July 2024

Suffolk Police Federation secretary Ben Hudson says he is ‘appalled’ by figures that reveal almost two in five police officers were assaulted last year.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed there were 538 assaults on frontline officers in Suffolk in the year to 31 March 2023, with 103 of those attacks resulting in injury.

And with around 1,425 officers in Suffolk Police, it’s the equivalent of 38 per cent of officers in the Force being assaulted during that 12-month period.

Nationally, the ONS figures show that in England and Wales there was a total of 40,330 attacks on officers in the year to 31 March, with 11,022 resulting in an injury to an officer.

Violence

Ben said: “I am appalled by the number of attacks on our members. The level of violence aimed at them is unbelievable.

“They are being assaulted just for going to work and protecting the public, and it is absolutely unacceptable.”

Ben anticipates the levels of assaults to reduce as the new public and personal safety training (PPST) comes into effect.

The PPST is being implemented in forces across England and Wales and aims to ensure officers have the skills and knowledge to manage situations involving physical and non-physical conflict safely and effectively.

The new training focuses on scenario-based incidents that officers are likely to deal with on a daily basis, such as:

· stop and search

· dealing with a vulnerable person

· working in the custody area

Officers are taught how to protect themselves, colleagues and members of the public, including the use of de-escalation and communication tactics.

Ben said: “If we’re expecting officers to run towards danger, then we need to give them the best training to protect themselves and the public.

“The new PPST should give them the skills and tactics to deal with violence and the threat of violence and to de-escalate situations.

“The feedback nationally so far has been positive and I’m hopeful that this training programme will help to reduce the levels of assaults.”

Ben encouraged members to report all assaults on them.

He said: “There is a concern that not all assaults are being reported because some officers see it as being part of the job.

“Violence against police officers should never be part of the job. No one should be attacked for going to work.

“We need all assaults to be reported so that the Force has an accurate picture of what our members are facing.

“And where officers are assaulted, they must receive the same level of support as other crime victims.”

Prosecution

Ben called on the wider criminal justice system to show its support for police officers, with prosecution for offenders and tough sentences for those convicted.

“The maximum sentence for assaults on officers was doubled last year to two years in prison following the Federation’s Protect the Protectors campaign,” Ben said.

“We need to send out the message that assaults on police officers won’t be tolerated, and to do that, we need a real deterrent and offenders to be properly punished.

“Where appropriate, the CPS must prosecute offenders, and when someone is convicted, the courts need to impose tough sentences.

“The protectors need protecting.”