Police officers 'mocked' in 'hobby' videos of them being attacked an 'increasing problem' says chief

With 1,159 assaults on Hampshire Constabulary officers during 2019/20 and 85 attacks daily across the country, those in the force are treading an increasingly perilous walk when upholding the thin blue line.

A number of high-profile vicious attacks serves to underline the vulnerable position officers are regularly forced to put themselves in.

London county lines drug dealer Michael Enzanga, 20, was jailed for 16 years after knifing PC Russell Turner twice in the back in Stamshaw Park, Portsmouth, on February 21 last year.

Two months ago an officer was stabbed by a man when attending an emergency call in Basingstoke.

Two police officers were also assaulted while trying to stop people from ‘tombstoning’ at Hotwalls during hot weather last summer - highlighting how even seemingly less risky jobs can descend into violence.

Assistant chief constable for Hampshire Constabulary, Ben Snuggs, admitted officers are putting themselves at risk but has warned criminals they will face the full wrath of the law if they attack those in the force.

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

‘In 2018/19 we saw a total of 1,176 assaults on our officers – with a large proportion of these being assessed as suffering no injuries. While in 2019/20 there was a welcome decrease in assaults on officers, totalling 1,159 assaults, a quarter of these resulted in an officer suffering an injury.

‘It is worth remembering that police officers who patrol our local communities and respond to calls for help do so with the primary objective of keeping people safe. One attack on a police officer, is one too many.

‘People, who deliberately assault, spit or cough on police officers, and other emergency workers, will continue to be dealt with swiftly and rigorously and I am greatly encouraged that this approach is also being taken across the wider criminal justice system.’

Insult has been added to injury with the rise of videoing police attacks as a means of inciting hatred and ridiculing those carrying out their job.

National chair of the Police Federation – and former Hampshire officer – John Apter said: ‘Many of (the attacks) are videoed – it’s almost like a hobby for some now to video an attack on a police officer and put it on social media.

‘This is not to assist an investigation but to mock my colleagues, and to almost encourage violence against them.

‘I’m afraid to say this is not uncommon, this is an increasing problem. We’ve seen an increase in police officers being injured by 27 per cent over the past 12 months, and this is why I’m working with the home secretary and others within policing to get increased sentences for those who assault my colleagues.

‘We need to ensure we look after our colleagues much better.’

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