Assaults on emergency service workers have increased by 31 per cent when comparing July this year to the same period last year.
The figures, released today by the National Police Chiefs’ Council, cover the four weeks to 2 August 2020 and have been compared with the same four weeks in 2019.
“It is particularly galling to see the number of attacks on emergency service workers increase at a time when crime overall has dropped considerably,” says Liz Groom, chair of Cambridgeshire Police Federation.
“Some of these assaults will involve people spitting at police or other blue light personnel while claiming to have coronavirus which is particularly abhorrent.
“We need the courts to hand out the toughest possible sentences when these offenders are brought before them so that they are suitably punished but also to send out a tough message that these attacks will not be tolerated.”
The Federation continues to push for an increase in sentences for those who assault emergency service workers with its ‘Protect The Protectors’ campaign.
National Federation vice-chair Ché Donald said: “It is vital to safeguard the physical and mental wellbeing of police officers and ensure courts issue tougher sentences for those who assault emergency service workers.”