South Yorkshire Police officers attacked on average 16 times a week

Between March 23 and November 15 last year, an average of 16 attacks on officers were reported each week compared to 12 over the same period the year before – an increase of 30 per cent.

South Yorkshire's Deputy Chief Constable, Mark Roberts, said: “This increased level of assaults on our officers as they go about their duty is both disturbing and unacceptable.

“We take such matters extremely seriously and would expect CPS and the courts to do likewise.

“Being assaulted is not ‘part of the job’ and it’s not something officers should just ‘put up with’.

“We will always seek to provide the best protection to our officers and the fact they are now equipped with Body Worn Video means we can bring more offenders to justice.

“These shocking figures are a reminder to the public that our officers put themselves in harm’s way every day and night, to keep the people and streets of South Yorkshire safe.”

Steve Kent, chairman of the South Yorkshire branch of the Police Federation, said: “Policing has always been dangerous and I myself have like all of our officers have sadly endured being assaulted on fairly regular intervals whilst being a police officer.

"Yes in some ways people may say that it’s part of the job but that makes it no more acceptable and we expect that people who do this are dealt with severely by the courts.

“What is even more concerning is that since Covid has come, assaults on officers has seen a marked increase in terms of the numbers. We also see the disgusting examples still of officers getting spat at and coughed at, which essentially weaponizes Covid.

“This is appalling and also highlights the urgent need for officers to be vaccinated now alongside our NHS and paramedic colleagues.”

Former South Yorkshire police officer Lisa Bates was left fighting for life after an axe attack while on duty in Sheffield in April 2016.

Nathan Sumner struck her across her skull when she responded to a call about an incident at his flat on Plowright Close, Gleadless Valley.

He was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and detained for 15 years, initially in a psychiatric hospital.

South Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Dr Alan Billings, said: “We have seen attacks on police officers increase across the country during the latest period of restrictions and lockdown.

“There has been verbal abuse and physical assaults, including coughing and blowing in officers facing while saying that the attacker has Covid. This is a minority of people.

“On the whole in South Yorkshire people are very supportive of the police and are disgusted at these attacks.

“I share the public’s disgust.

“I find it astonishing that a small number of people find it acceptable to behave this way when they know we are in the middle of a pandemic that is taking lives and the emergency services are already going above and beyond.

“The job of the police is to help keep us all safe.

“I would hope that where people are prosecuted for this the courts will take an appropriately hard line when it comes to sentencing.”