Record 125 cops assaulted every day last year as Home Secretary says thugs ‘must pay’
A RECORD 125 cops were assaulted every day last year — and the thugs responsible “must pay”, the Home Secretary has said.
Yvette Cooper called the figures “a stain on our society” and vowed to restore the rule of law.
A total of 45,907 assaults on the police were recorded in the 12 months to March this year, with 11,479 of those resulting in injury — up 75 per cent on 2018 levels.
The figure does not include those injured in the summer riots, when thousands of officers were pelted with bricks and bottles.
More than 50 were hurt in the Southport unrest alone, suffering fractures, lacerations and concussion.
As well as ensuring those responsible are punished, Ms Cooper has said she will put more bobbies on the beat.
Writing in The Sun today, she says: “We cannot turn this round overnight but we can end the apathy which the previous government had towards this issue.
“It is a stain on our society and those responsible must pay the price.”
She added: “That starts with tackling the unacceptable culture of abuse towards our officers, and restoring respect for the rule of law.
“We need to get thousands more officers back on the beat, and restore the trust that should exist between the police and local communities.”
The police’s reputation has come under strain in recent years, undermined by the handling of pro-Palestinian marches and the sickening crimes of sex predators in their ranks such as Wayne Couzens and David Carrick.
A report today says former Home Secretary Suella Braverman should not have publicly blasted the Met for allowing a pro-Palestinian rally on Armistice Day.
Chief inspector of constabulary Andy Cooke said her views should have remained private.
We must build up trust and respect
By Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary
IN MY first week as Home Secretary, I had the honour of attending the Police Bravery Awards after meeting many of the nominees at Downing Street earlier that day.
I spoke that evening about the selfless dedication of those officers who, even in the most dangerous situations, put their own lives at risk to keep the rest of us safe.
Sadly, the officers who serve communities know the risks of being assaulted. They never shirk that threat, but that is no reason for the rest of us to accept the violence they are facing, with 125 assaults on police officers reported every day last year.
We cannot turn this round overnight but we can end the apathy which the previous government had towards this issue. It is a stain on our society and those responsible must pay the price. But it is not enough just to punish those who attack our police. We must also change the mindset which makes that behaviour possible.
That starts with tackling the unacceptable culture of abuse towards our police officers, and restoring respect for the rule of law. We need to get thousands more officers back on the beat, and restore the trust that should exist between the police and local communities.
Of course that also means holding our police to the highest standards, but when our brave officers are out there on our streets, we will back them to protect the public, and themselves. For putting their lives on the line for us every day, that is the least they deserve.