Shock figures show 'concerning' surge in attacks against Hampshire police officers

Statistics released from the government have revealed a surge in the number of assaults on police constables in the past year.

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.

The situation has worried law enforcement campaigners, who have blamed an increase in ‘general violence in society’ as one factor in the surge.

Councillor Donna Jones, Conservative leader in Portsmouth, is campaigning to be Hampshire’s next police and crime commissioner. She said: ‘The increase in assaults against police officers is concerning and wholly unacceptable.

‘Recent cases include police being spat at with perpetrators claiming they have Covid-19. This is appalling behaviour. ‘

Zoe Wakefield, chairman of the Hampshire Police Federation, represents the county’s rank-and-file officers and has vowed to step up efforts to tackle the problem.

She said: ‘The increase is concerning but sadly not a surprise.

‘I am planning on doing some work to try and identify the issues and what more can be done.

‘Some of it may be the impact of Covid, training, better recording of assaults, negative perception of police in the media, less respect for police and a general increase in violence in society in general.’

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Nationally more than 30,000 officers were attacked, an increase of three per cent on 2018/19.

Home secretary Priti Patel has said she is well aware of the growing need to tackle violence against blue light workers and has vowed to double the maximum sentences available to two years.

Any legislation would follow the 2018 Protect the Protectors Bill which saw the sentencing power of the courts go from six months to a year in prison.

Cllr Jones added she welcomed the home secretary’s plan and vowed she would ‘do all she could’ to ensure the safety of Hampshire’s police force if she was elected commissioner.

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