"160 more police assaults" recorded in Essex this year compared to last, says police federation
That comes to a total of 1508 assaults this year
The Essex police federation says 'continuing swift justices' for police assaults will help gain back the respect of the police, after 160 more assaults were recorded this year compared to last year in Essex.
Figures show 1508 assaults on police were recorded this year in the county, compared to 1348 last year.
Laura Heggie is the chair of the Essex Police Federation:
"No assault on a police officer is acceptable. People don't come to work to be assaulted.
Ms Heggie says they've felt a "lack of respect" from "certain people" for a long time:
"We've been saying it for a long time. My members say it. There is no respect from certain people towards the police.
"I think it's really important to make sure that we're not just saying everybody because it's not everybody, just the minority. And I don't know if it's a generational thing.
This is in response to the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, who said people too often feel "crime has no consequences" as she promised to restore confidence in policing and the justice system.
Ms Cooper said there has been a "disrespect for law and order that has been allowed to grow in recent years".
The home secretary continued, there's "lots of rebuilding to be done" after a fortnight of rioting following the Southport stabbings on 29 July.
The Essex Police Federation thinks a continuation of 'swift justices', like the ones in recent weeks, will help gain back respect for police.
"Within days we've seen offenders put before a court and given substantial custodial sentences and sent straight to prison. My ask is that this continues," says Ms Heggie.
However Ms Heggie fears it won't continue because of how "clogged up" the justice and court systems are.
"When we see officers being assaulted and it takes 3-4 years to come to court before the offender is actually given a sentence or found guilty, that doesn't help with gaining respect for police officers," she says.
"The sentence doesn't fit the crime," she added.
Yvette Cooper said the government planned to put thousands more neighbourhood police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) "back on to our streets".
She said she is not prepared to "tolerate the brazen abuse and contempt" from a minority towards police.
"We must take action to restore respect for the police, and respect for the law," she added.
Sir Keir Starmer has cancelled his summer holiday plans as the government continues to deal with the fallout from the rioting.