EXCLUSIVE: Attacks on police officers in South Yorkshire almost doubles in two years
296 assaults on police officers in South Yorkshire have been recorded so far in 2024
We're hearing attacks on South Yorkshire Police happen 'every day' - following violent disorder at Manvers earlier this year - in which 60 officers were injured.
Exclusive figures we've been given shows the number of assaults on officers have nearly doubled since 2022.
Almost 300 attacks have been logged so far this year, compared to 160 in 2022.
Sargent Simon Pickering has been attacked before on duty in Sheffield - but he's confident measures are in place to deter people:
"Getting assaulted on duty isn't something we should tolerate or accept, but it's always something on the back of our minds.
"The key thing for police now is body worn video - it's so good as it captures everything that happens from our perspective - we aren't relying solely on CCTV anymore.
"It can often make people wary of doing anything if they know you're filming them."
The Chair of South Yorkshire's Police Federation is Steve Kent:
"I'm not surprised by these figures. I get notified in my role of all the assaults involving our officers, and it's happening every day.
"There's some really vicious and nasty assaults that take place.
"We had one officer last year who was dragged to the ground, and she was beaten, punched, and kicked.
"Her hair was pulled and she was left with serious bruising to her face and arms, and that person was only given a suspended sentence.
"We need to see the sentencing actually match the severity of the crime.
"Getting those who've assaulted officers to court isn't a problem - but sadly, the sentences that follow are too lenient, and that has to change."
You can see the exclusive figures we've obtained through a recent Freedom of Information request to South Yorkshire Police below:
January – December 2022 – 160 assaults.
January – December 2023 – 258 assaults.
January – Present – 296 assaults.
South Yorkshire Police provided us with this statement in response:
"We take assaults on our officers and staff extremely seriously and are very clear this is not something that should ever be considered 'just part of the job'.
"Every single report of this nature is investigated with the same care, compassion and commitment a member of the public would expect if it had happened to them.
"This area of work falls under Operation Hampshire, which provides a strategy, processes and guidance to help us respond more effectively to these assaults.
"Operation Hampshire has been in place for more than two years.
"We know on-duty assaults are underreported and through this work we urge colleagues to report every attack to ensure we can secure justice against the perpetrators and provide appropriate support to victims.
"The result of this is a steady increase in reports over the last couple of years, and our work continues.
"More than 60 of our officers were injured during the horrific scenes of violence in Manvers, Rotherham, in August 2024.
"The sentences which have since been passed in court show attacks on officers and staff will not be tolerated in South Yorkshire and that anyone involved in such behaviour will be dealt with robustly."