Courage of assaulted police officers praised after Derby incidents

Derbyshire Police Headquarters stock image. Image by LDRS/Nigel Slater.

Government officials have warned those who assault police could face jail after two Derbyshire officers were assaulted on the job.

Last week, one Derbyshire police officer was taken to hospital after breaking his arm while catching a suspect riding a stolen motorbike near Uttoxeter Old Road in Derby.

Days later, a second officer was assaulted on duty when she came across a man who appeared to be lying unconscious in Arbor Close, off Abbey Street. Police revealed that as she tried to help the man he became violent and assaulted her.

Appeals for witnesses have been launched for both incidents, with Derbyshire police Chief Constable Chief Simon Blatchly, saying the assaults reinforced further the “risks that officers face each and every day”.

The county’s Police and Crime Commissioner Nicolle Ndiweni-Roberts praised the officers’ courage and efforts to tackle crime.

She said: “An assault on a police officer should never be dismissed as ‘part of the job’. These are the people we rely on to protect us, prevent crime and keep our communities safe.

“Every day, while most of us instinctively move away from danger, police officers run towards it on our behalf.

“These incidents are a stark reminder of the risks police officers face every single shift. When they leave home for work, they cannot know what dangers, challenges or violence they may confront.   Policing is an extraordinary profession that demands courage, commitment and sacrifice.

“Those who wear the uniform deserve our respect, not violence.”

The Government has also shown its support for the officers and warned those responsible for the assaults that they could be jailed.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “We will not tolerate any violence or intimidation towards police officers, who work tirelessly to keep the public safe.

“Those convicted of assaulting an emergency worker can face up to two years in prison, with escalating sentences for more serious incidents.”

The spokesperson added that through initiatives such as Operation Hampshire, the Home Office continues to work with policing partners to ensure that assaults against police officers and staff are consistently recorded, reported, investigated and, where appropriate, prosecuted.