Sheffield police speak out as thugs throw LIT FIREWORK into squad car in shocking video

Officers came under attack on Wensley Street, Grimesthorpe, on Saturday night.

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They were dealing with a ‘failure to stop’ incident at around 10.45pm when a group of youths approached their police car and threw a lit firework through the open door.

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The officers escaped unharmed.

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An investigation is under way but no arrests have yet been made.

Sheffield North East Neighbourhoods Inspector, Gary Bramhall, said: “It is appalling that officers who were simply doing their job, protecting the public, have been targeted in this way.

“Attacks like this place the safety of our officers, and the people they are trying to protect, at risk.

“It is staggering that people would act in such an irresponsible and dangerous way, and incidents like this will not be tolerated.”

Steve Kent, chairman of the South Yorkshire branch of the Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers, said: “Ever wanted to see a perfect example of the utter scum our officers have to deal with especially at this time of year then here it is. This could have resulted in very serious injuries. Absolutely disgusting.”

He added: “I am absolutely appalled by the footage seen over the weekend. It is a miracle that those officers weren’t seriously injured.

“However I am not surprised we are seeing this. Both from personal experience of my days as a response officer and from speaking to officers this happens every year without fail and officers and our emergency service colleagues are frequently attacked by idiots using fireworks as weapons.

“This has to stop as it is not a case of if, it is a case of when someone is going to get very seriously hurt.

“It doesn’t take much to imagine the horrific injuries those officers could have suffered if that firework would have gone off a couple of seconds earlier.

“The time has come for the mass sale of fireworks to be reviewed and at the very least only be available to people via audited licensing system or something similar of that nature.”

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