Chair condemns rise in officer assaults

1 October 2020

The chair of West Midlands Police Federation says he’s appalled by a steep rise in attacks on police officers and other front-line workers.

Jon Nott was speaking as new figures released by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) show a 29 per cent increase in assaults on emergency services workers in the four weeks to 30 August compared to the same period in 2019.

“It’s absolutely appalling. It’s sickening to see such a large increase in attacks on the very people who have been keeping the public safe during the pandemic,” he said.

“And what is even more shocking is that this 29 per cent increase has no doubt been partly driven by people using Covid-19 as a weapon by spitting or coughing at our colleagues while claiming to have the virus.

“We need offenders who are brought to justice to face the maximum possible sentences because this can’t be allowed to continue. We need to give our members and their colleagues in the other emergency services the support and protection they need to do their job.”

NPCC chair Martin Hewitt said: “As we’ve shockingly seen throughout the pandemic, there continues to be a concerning rise in assaults against emergency service workers. We will use the full force of the law to prosecute anyone who uses violence against those who are on the front-line.”

The NPCC figures show that crime trends have returned close to pre-lockdown levels. After a 28 per cent reduction at the height of lockdown, police recorded crime is now three per cent lower than in the same period in 2019.

Mental health incidents were up five per cent in this reporting period, the NPCC said, reported rape saw a four per cent rise and domestic abuse incidents increased by seven per cent.

John Apter, the national chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “The recent return to pre-Covid crime levels comes as no surprise, as during lockdown there were fewer people out and therefore less opportunities to commit crime.

“Regrettably, I am not surprised either to see the rise in the number of call-outs for mental health incidents. This has been steadily increasing year on year and the police are often seen as the first port of call when people need help.

“My colleagues will continue to do their job to the best of their ability but, as I have said many times before, there is no magic box of extra officers waiting to be opened, and undoubtedly policing will struggle with this increased demand.”