Jail Is Only Deterrent For Assaulting Police

ANYONE who attacks a police officer should be handed an immediate jail sentence, Essex Police Federation has said.

Police officer assaults have increased by a third in four years, and senior leaders have met with controversy as they grapple with how to deal with them.

Last month Katy Bourne, the new Chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said anyone who hurts an officer should go to prison, “no ifs, no buts”. While Met Commissioner Cressida Dick called for a “two strike” rule before a prison sentence is handed down.

But Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor said: “One assault on an officer is one too many. I am firmly of that belief. We have got a number of laws that are designed to protect people. All we need is partners in the criminal justice system to see those laws through.

“If prison is the only option for some of these people, then throw them in prison. If we don’t have enough prison spaces then let’s build some more prisons. Just because we don’t have room in our criminal justice system, in the prison service, doesn’t mean those that perpetrate these types of crime should get away with it. And so I think prison for those who assault police officers should be a very real risk they take the moment they use force against an officer.”

Steve said the onus has to be on the courts to toughen up, after the Federation lobbied for new legislation that came in last year. From November, the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act 2018 meant attackers can be jailed for up to 12 months. But offenders are still walking free from the courts after being convicted of attacking officers.

Steve added: “The law is there and we’d like to see it used more robustly. Otherwise we will have spent our time lobbying for more law only for it not to be used properly. So let’s use what we’ve got. Let’s try and introduce a credible deterrent to those intent on causing harm to our officers. A part of that deterrent has to be time in prison.”