South Yorkshire Police officer seriously injured in attack
A South Yorkshire Police officer has been seriously injured in an attack.
He was assaulted while attending reports of a disturbance on Pingles Crescent, Thrybergh, Rotherham, at around 8.25pm on Wednesday, September 2.
South Yorkshire Police said he was seriously injured while attempting to detain a 28-year-old man.
The officer needed hospital treatment for facial injuries.
A 28-year-old man was arrested in nearby South Vale Road a short time later and held on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.
Earlier this week, South Yorkshire’s Police Federation claimed policing has ‘never been as dangerous’.
The body, which represents the interests of rank and file officers, spoke out as the findings of a safety review of policing were published.
Steve Kent, chairman of the South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “We have and do see people willing to assault officers sometimes in frankly horrific ways.
"The consequences of such actions need to be severe to send that message out once and for all that you will lose your liberty for a long time if you carry out these acts.
“Make no mistake, recent tragic events and from what I see and hear on a daily basis have shown that policing has never been as dangerous in modern times as it is now.”
Ché Donald, national vice chairman of the Police Federation, said: “Along with the majority of the public, the federation is appalled by the atrocious levels of violence colleagues have faced recently and has been demanding action.”
One of the worst ever attacks on a police officer in South Yorkshire left PC Lisa Bates fighting for life in April 2016.
Nathan Sumner struck her with an axe when she responded to a call about an incident at his flat on Plowright Close, Gleadless Valley.
PC Bates, who was an officer for 13 years but never returned to work afterwards, suffered a fractured skull and partially-severed finger in the axe attack, having already broken her leg jumping down a staircase in an attempt to escape.
Sumner was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and detained for 15 years, initially in a psychiatric hospital.