This year, an average of 80 police officers were attacked each day. These are shocking statistics.
Over a three-month period there were at least 7,357 assaults against officers, constables and volunteers in Britain – indicating there could have been more than 29,000 attacks during 2021.
Assaults increased by 21 percent last year in comparison to the same period the year prior, which was sustained through this year.
Over a three-month period there were at least 7,357 assaults against officers, constables and volunteers in Britain – indicating there could have been more than 29,000 attacks during 2021 (stock image)
7.294 assaults occurred between March 23 and June 23, 2018, compared to 6.036 during the same period last year.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary recorded an increase of 121%, with 128 incidents between March 23-June 23. This is an improvement from the 58 attacks last year.
This represents a 22% increase on the 41 force assaults in 2019.
Cambridgeshire chief constable Nick Dean said his force suffered roughly one assault a day and there had been a rise in spitting on officers to ‘use Covid as a weapon’.
He added: ‘The nature of assault can really range from very serious to what we can class as lower-tier assaults such as being pushed or kicked, or what is very prevalent – being spat at. None of that, at any level, is acceptable within policing.’
Dean stated that one officer suffered severe brain injuries after he was attacked so brutally in February.
A man attacked his father and struck the officer over the head.
‘It [the violence] has an impact on the officer, it has an impact on their family and friends, and I have to say it has an impact upon the organisation,’ he added.
Cambridgeshire Constabulary recorded an increase of 121%, with 128 incidents between March 23rd, and June 23, this year. This is a significant improvement from the 58 attacks last year. (stock photo)
Dean claimed that the rising number of suicides is due to an increase in mental illness, exacerbated through the pandemic and political protests on issues like climate change or Black Lives Matter.
‘People are suffering much more from mental health and wellbeing issues, which have clearly increased during the lockdown, and the restrictive periods and in society in general,’ the chief constable said.
Merseyside (41%), Dorset Police (80%), and Avon and Somerset (40%) saw the largest increases in attacks.
Only 31 of the 43 officers in England and Wales answered Freedom of Information requests. This means that it is possible for more to come.