Sussex Police condemn Christmas Day assaults on officers
Twelve incidents were recorded in 24 hours in West Sussex
Sussex Police are reminding the public that assaulting a police officer is 'completely unacceptable' - after twelve attacks were reported in West Sussex on Christmas Day.
Assaults on officers on Friday included spitting, kicking, punching and biting, while one officer suffered a dislocated shoulder.
A further four incidents occurred in Brighton and Hove, making the total across the county 16 in the space of 24 hours.
Detective Chief Superintendent Steve Rayland of Sussex Police said attacks on police will not be tolerated:
“Each one of these officers has sacrificed spending Christmas with their loved ones to protect the public and catch criminals, only to be on the receiving end of offences committed by a small number of individuals.
“We are fortunate to have committed police officers who signed up to protect vulnerable people and make our towns and communities a safer place; they did not sign up to be assaulted, insulted or abused.
“While the vast majority of people in Sussex are fully supportive of our officers and our force, there is a small minority who seem to think the law does not apply to them.
“We know things are tough at the moment, especially during the festive season, but we’re all in this together. Whatever the circumstances, there is absolutely no excuse to assault a police officer, and anyone found guilty of committing such an offence will be dealt with robustly.”