Police need more protection

8:15am Wednesday 3rd January 2007

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PEOPLE who assault police officers should receive mandatory prison sentences, according to north Kent's area commander.

Chief Superintendent Gary Beautridge says would-be attackers should know they will be definitely locked up.

He believes this would lead to a fall in assaults and also teach attackers a lesson.

Mr Beautridge was speaking following the release of figures which show 271 officers have been assaulted in north Kent in the past two years.

In reality, these figures are likely to be higher as they do not include assaults which have taken place in the current financial year, which began last April.

Under the Freedom of Information Act, News Shopper has learned there were 126 assaults in north Kent from April 2005 to last March.

Of those officers assaulted, 43 suffered injuries.

The number of assaults on police officers was even higher in the previous financial year, with 145 assaults reported, all of which resulted in injury.

Many of the incidents occurred when officers were arresting people.

However, at least one attack was completely unprovoked, while another occurred when a person was released from police custody.

Other incidents include an assault using a motor vehicle and while a police officer was restraining someone.

Mr Beautridge, who has been assaulted himself, says this kind of crime is increasing.

He says one of the reasons for the increasing severity of attacks on police nationwide is because people, especially in metropolitan areas, have access to more lethal weapons.

Although the majority of assaults on police in Kent seem to be minor, Mr Beautridge says they still need to be dealt with seriously.

Assaults on officers can have severe consequences for them, their families and colleagues.

They can be moved to desk duties until they feel safe enough to return to work or given time off to recuperate.

Mr Beautridge has pledged to use every ounce of influence the police have to punish offenders and use every means at their disposal.

He said: "We want people to go to prison for this offence.

"We live in a sometimes volatile world and the very nature of policing brings officers in contact with sometimes violent situations.

"What we tend to have in Kent, which is a safe place to live and police, is an increase in minor assaults on police."

North Kent police's head of operations, Chief Inspector Dave Cooper, says aggression towards officers is a daily occurrence.

He said: "I believe everyday arrests are made and on at least one occasion an officer receives a push.

"Resisting arrest goes on the statement of the officer but it will not normally come as a separate charge.

"We are far more tolerant as far as the justice system is concerned in this country."