Close to 1,000 injuries were inflicted on police officers in a year, with a sharp rise prompting a call for urgent action and stronger sentences for those found guilty of attacks.
The number of assaults causing injury rose by 55% from 2018/2019 to the year ending in April last year, from 626 to 971, according to the Police Federation for Northern Ireland.
Officers were bitten, spat at, head butted and struck with fists, leading to many off work for long periods, said Police Federation chairman Liam Kelly.
Justice Minister Naomi Long said she plans legislation “to reform the law on sentencing by increasing the maximum sentence for such attacks and making serious assaults on front line workers a statutory aggravating factor,”
Mr Kelly called on the Department of Justice, led by Naomi Long, to craft an “urgent action” plan to deal with what he described as a “deeply disturbing” rise in attacks on officers
“These figures represent a deeply disturbing upsurge in assaults,” Mr Kelly said.
“Assaults on our officers and staff are totally unacceptable and take a heavy toll on our men and women. We are not society’s punch bag or a release valve for those who seek to impose themselves and harm and intimidate others.
“The rate of assaults on officers is worryingly high with official crime statistics recording a total of 3,272 assaults in 2022/2023 of which 971 involved injury. This equates to a rise of 7.6% from the previous year in the injury category.
“There is also an element of internal under reporting so the real levels could be significantly worse.”
Mr Kelly called for “stronger, no-nonsense sentences” to be handed down by the courts, which he added “would greatly assist to deter would-be attackers”.
“We would appeal to the justice minister to move at pace on increased sentencing guidelines in support of both our officers and our emergency service partners,” Mr Kelly said.
Justice Ministers Long said statistics show that in the last five years an average of eight police officers per day have been attacked.
“I intend to bring forward new legislation to reform the law on sentencing by increasing the maximum sentence for such attacks and making serious assaults on front line workers a statutory aggravating factor,” Ms Long said.
She added: “The testimonies from officers clearly demonstrate the impact that assaults and attacks have on officers and their families, both physically and mentally.
“I would like to place on record my appreciation to police officers and police staff for the critical role they play in keeping everyone in society safe and protected.”
Mr Kelly added: “Our officers do not deserve to be targeted in this manner for simply doing their job. They work tirelessly on behalf of this entire community and any assault on them should be viewed as an assault on society overall.”
