Surrey Police Federation backs calls for prison sentences for those who assault officers

4 September 2019

Surrey Police Federation is backing calls for people who assault officers to be given a mandatory jail term.

The Protect the Protectors Legislation (Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018) provides magistrates and judges with a maximum 12-month sentence to hand down for assaults on officers and other emergency service workers.

However, new Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Chair Katy Bourne has called for ‘no ifs, no buts’ legislation which would automatically jail offenders if they are found guilty of assaulting a police officer, firefighter or paramedic.

It’s a sentiment echoed by Mel Warnes, Surrey Police Federation Chair.

“We can’t keep saying, ‘we don’t want to send people to prison’,” she said.

“People need to know if they do this they’re going to prison. That’s got to be the starting point. That can’t be the last resort. I would absolutely endorse what Katy has said.

“We just need everybody to get behind that. The PCCs, the police, the judicial system and the Government need to push that through, whether that’s through extra funding for the Crown Prosecution Service or extra funding for the prison service.”