Thames Valley Police continue to see an increase in assaults on officers
In most cases the threat of Covid was used as a weapon.
TVP's Chief Constable said they're continuing to see an increase in assaults during the pandemic.
Chief Constable John Campbell said:
"A number of those have been where the threat of COVID has been used as a weapon. That's either by spitting at officers or coughing at them.
They obviously will be arrested for assaulting an emergency worker and what we have seen is the great majority of those have gone before the court and the court have issued custodial sentences."
Last year figures released by the Office for National Statistics showed 1,101 assaults on officers in the Thames Valley in 2019/20. 205 of them resulted in a police constable being injured.
John added that he understands on occasion violence will be presented to his officers:
"We kind of acknowledge that its part of policing and we train and equip our officers accordingly, but we should never accept it, we should never tolerate it and what we hope for when these things happen is the support from the courts and community"
He also highlighted the vast majority of support they've had during COVID reflects the value officers are held by in their local community.