Number of attacks on police officers in Leicestershire more than doubled during the first 12 weeks of the Covid-19 lockdown

The number of attacks on police officers in Leicestershire more than doubled during the first 12 weeks of the Covid-19 lockdown, it has emerged.

Some 205 assaults were carried out on police officers and staff in the county between March 23 and June 23, 2020, new figures show.

That’s compared to 101 attacks recorded on police personnel in the same three-month period in 2019.

And that rise of 102 per cent means that Leicestershire Police has seen the biggest increase in assaults among 30 forces in England and Wales from March to June.

Officers have been spat at repeatedly during the coronavirus crisis.

They have also been kicked, punched and bitten time and again while a brick was hurled through a parked police car showering an officer with broken glass.

The startling spiral in the number of assaults has been slammed by Harborough MP Neil O’Brien as he accused offenders of behaving like “absolute animals”.

Neil has battled and campaigned for years for “thugs” who attack police and other 999 workers to receive tougher jail terms.

“I am horrified to learn that there has been such a huge increase in the number of assaults on police officers during the coronavirus pandemic,” the Conservative MP told the Harborough Mail.

“This is a sobering reminder of the risks that these brave officers take every day on our behalf.

“It just goes to show what the police have to put up with every single day from the dregs of society.”

Neil said that prison sentences for those who attack the police were doubled from six months to 12 months in November 2018.

“The courts have these stronger powers at their disposal.

“So I urge them to use them at every available opportunity,” he declared.

“These criminals are often serial offenders – they have to be punished and deterred at the same time.

“The courts have to send out a very strong message to anyone thinking of attacking a police officer or other 999 worker.

“It’s truly disgraceful and shameful that when the police are trying to do their job at a particularly difficult time people are acting like absolute animals.

“We have to keep on top of this and stop it getting totally out of hand.”

Neil said it was “especially grim, vile and totally unacceptable” that officers have been spat on repeatedly in Leicestershire during the virus emergency increasing the chances of them becoming infected.

Simon Cole, the chief constable of Leicestershire Police, told the Mail: “Any attack on any police officer or staff member is very concerning to us and completely unacceptable.

“Your police officers and staff are normal people who do incredible things.

“Drawn from our local communities, they are doing an excellent job at the most challenging of times.

“Being attacked and assaulted while they carry out this duty will simply not be tolerated.”

The county’s most senior officer said they were determined to crack down on those who brutally target the police.

“We will continue to prosecute offences of assaults on emergency workers and we have seen offenders receiving custodial sentences as a result of this.

“Our officers are fully trained in their response in these circumstances and are provided with protective equipment, including bodyworn video cameras.

“We have also continued to further roll out the use of Taser for the safety of our officers while two years ago also saw us launch the use of spit guards for officers,” said Mr Cole.

“We take these assaults extremely seriously.

“We continue to work with the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Police Federation and Unison to prevent these assaults from happening in the first place and to provide full support to officers and staff who these offences can have a significant impact on.”