Assaults on police up 60 per cent in North Yorkshire during lockdown

There's been a nearly 60 per cent increase in assaults on police officers in North Yorkshire during lockdown.

In the Harrogate district, officers have been bitten, grabbed by the throat, and kicked - one officer was taken to hospital after being kicked in the face.

North Yorkshire Police chief constable Lisa Winward has called the rise in attacks "sickening".

North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Julia Mulligan has said people in the county should be "disgusted" by the increase in attacks.

Since late March, 87 assaults against North Yorkshire Police officers and staff have been reported.

During the same period in 2019, the number was 55 – a rise of 58 per cent.

'Sickening and wrong'

North Yorkshire Police chief constable Lisa Winward slammed the attacks as “sickening and wrong” and her calls for officers to be treated with more respect have been echoed by commissioner Julia Mulligan.

Ms Mulligan said: “We should all be disgusted by this increase in assaults,”

“Police officers and staff put themselves on the frontline, run towards danger and keep us safe.”

“They deserve respect and support and I echo the chief constable’s vow to deal with offenders robustly.”

In August alone, there were 21 reported offences.

Six officers were punched in the face during different incidents, with at least two suffering black eyes and facial injuries.

An officer was kicked in the side of his head and another had to attend hospital for tests after someone spat in their eye.

An officer’s hand was bitten, and two other officers were bitten on the knee.

Several other officers were spat on, an officer was head-butted in her nose, and another officer was stabbed in the hand with a pen in custody.

Both chief constable Lisa Winward and Ms Mulligan have vowed that anyone who assaults a police worker will be dealt with to the full extent of the law.