West Mercia Police Federation chair Barry Horton has praised the important work of Operation Hampshire.

The wellbeing initiative, launched by Oscar Kilo almost three years ago, is designed to prevent and combat assaults on officers by offering guidance and process throughout police forces across the country.

It provides a consistent approach to wellbeing support and victim care following an assault, considers the potential impact of every assault, increases criminal justice outcomes and improves overall understanding of assaults on officers.

Barry said: “Assaults on police officers really are a stain on society but unfortunately they  are all too common.

“Earlier this year 12 West Mercia officers were assaulted by members of the public over the space of a single weekend.

“It is difficult to overstate the impact of an assault on our members both physically and emotionally but support is available and Operation Hampshire does amazing work trying to help officers deal with the aftermath and recover from the ordeal.”

The most recent figures show that in the year up to March 2022 a total of 671 West Mercia Police officers were assaulted with 207 suffering injuries as a result.

Operation Hampshire is now a priority workstream for the National Police Wellbeing Service and Police Covenant, was recently adopted by UNISON and has the backing of policing minister Chris Philp.

Police Federation national chair Steve Hartshorn described it as a ‘legacy project in policing’ which had already been a huge success.

“If anyone ever asks: ‘what does the Federation ever do for its members?’, then this is an absolute example of what we do. I am immensely proud of how far Op Hampshire has come, its success speaks for itself,” he said.

“While Op Hampshire is primarily still focussing on officer assaults, it’s actually giving our members so much more than that - you have to look at the bigger picture.

“The data we collect will educate us, which in turn will help us provide better training and communications. While the project also gives our members the confidence they need to feel valued and see that their Federation is looking after them.

“We’re also working with other agencies too, like our emergency service colleagues in the ambulance service, to share the strategy. Not only will Op Hampshire support officers today, but as it grows and develops, it’s only going to get bigger.

“I genuinely believe we can get the public’s confidence in the police back and it will be through projects like Op Hampshire.”

The initiative has been driven largely by national Operation Hampshire co-ordinator Dave Brewster who retired from the Met last year but retained his role to keep up the momentum of the initiative with the National Police Wellbeing Service.

“My goal is that every assault on a police officer or member of staff is recorded, investigated and then those involved are given the correct support they need. Even if they don’t think that they need support, I believe everyone should at least be offered it.”