Furious senior police leader blasts public for treating officers as 'villains' of coronavirus pandemic

John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, has lashed out at people attacking officers for enforcing lockdown laws during the viral outbreak.

The outraged officer, who served for 27 years and previously represented police in Hampshire, said law enforcement personnel were becoming ‘exhausted’ amid a surge of attacks against them in recent months.

Taking to Twitter, Mr Apter said the ‘human impact’ of the pandemic had been ‘devastating’. But he added: ‘Police officers are being portrayed by some as the villains during this pandemic. That’s insulting and so unfair. We are damned if we do and dammed if we don’t.

‘Criticised by some for enforcing too much, others say it’s not enough. Phone cameras put in their faces when they try to speak with people. Assaults on police have increased during the pandemic. Weaponising the virus by spitting and coughing at police officers is sadly the norm.

‘We know this isn’t easy on anybody, we are doing our best in the most difficult of circumstances. Like our colleagues in the NHS and other parts of the pubic sector my colleagues are exhausted, the pressure on them is relentless. This isn’t a moan, it’s just stating facts.’

Latest figures released by the government have revealed attacks on police across Hampshire have soared.

A shocking 1,241 officers in the county were attacked in 2019/20 compared to 1,176 in 2018/19 – an increase of 5.3 per cent.

A total of 383 of the assaults left Hampshire Constabulary officers with an injury of some sort, the government said.

The level of violence facing the county’s police force is higher than that of neighbouring Sussex, which recorded 1,151 assaults, with 316 officers injured.

Mr Apter added: ‘Police officers are human beings doing an extraordinary job. We are not trying to spoil people’s fun or ruin Christmas, we’re trying to stop this deadly virus taking more lives. The vast majority of the public understand this and support us. We are not the enemy.’

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Zoe Wakefield, chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, praised Mr Apter for standing up for officers – and blasted those who sought to attack emergency service workers.

‘It’s the police who face the brunt of the public’s anger and frustration, resulting in officers being assaulted and injured,’ she added.

The Assistant Chief Constable for Hampshire Constabulary Ben Snuggs has previously warned attacks on officers would be dealt with harshly.

He said: ‘Attacking a police officer either verbally or physically when we are trying to do a job is appalling behaviour and will not be tolerated.

‘Assaults should never be seen as just part of the job.

‘Police will often come into contact with people who are sometimes going through the worst experience of their lives, but this doesn’t give people the right to be verbally or physically abusive towards our officers and staff.

‘An attack on one of our officers or staff is an attack on all of us.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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