A POLICE officer somewhere in the UK is assaulted by a member of the public every 27 minutes.<\/p>\n
More than 19,600 police officers in 44 United Kingdom police forces were assaulted in the last financial year.\u00a0This adds up to 54 officers every day.\u00a0In Essex Police the statistics are recorded between October and September. Between October 2012 and March this year, there were 332 officers attacked.<\/p>\n
In the last full year of stats, 722 officers were assaulted between October 2011 and September 2012. This compares to 814 the previous year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy should we go to work and get assaulted?\u201d says Karen Stephens, speaking on behalf of the Police Federation of England and Wales.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe majority of people joined the job because they want to help people and put baddies away. Not to get assaulted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Why does she think officers are being targeted at such alarming rates? \u201cThere is a lack of officers on the streets,\u201d she stated. \u201cThe ones that are there are single crewed. If someone is turning up to a fight and they are going on their own then the people who are fighting generally turn on the police officer\u2026 and when there is only one of you, that is not a good situation to be in. If you are double crewed, at least there is somebody there to cover your back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mark Smith, chairman of Essex Police Federation, said a wider roll out of Taser in the force might be a tactical option to keep officers safe \u2013 particularly with many being single crewed.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cTaser will help keeping officers safe. Especially when more and more officers are single crewed with back up so far away.\u201d<\/p>\n
Across England and Wales, the Met had the largest number of officer assaults in the past financial year with 1,493. Greater Manchester Police was next with 802 and then Thames Valley Police with 560.<\/p>\n
Given the size of its force \u2013 less than 2,000 officers \u2013 Hertfordshire had a high amount of assaults with 451 in the last financial year.<\/p>\n
\u201cAttacks on police officers are totally unacceptable and will not be tolerated,\u201d said a spokesman for the Home Office. \u201cOfficers do a difficult job protecting our communities and keeping crime down so it is right that we have laws in place to punish those who try to do them harm.\u201d<\/p>\n
A spokeswoman for ACPO said: \u201cThe safety of police officers and staff is a critical concern for all chief officers. The job of a police officer involves risk and we know that many of our people show incredible courage and dedication in placing themselves at risk of harm in discharging their duties.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficer training and equipment is always developing and improving and it can help police officers risk assess situations and respond effectively.\u201d<\/p>\n
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