With more than 100 assaults on Bedfordshire police officers since lockdown began, a warning has been issued that assaulting officers could put the wider community in danger.
Kathryn Holloway, Bedfordshire’s police and crime commissioner, said: “Assaults on our police officers are absolutely unacceptable.
“Police put their own lives on the line for the public every single day and have the right to return home safely at the end of each shift, like everyone else. An attack on a police officer can never be considered part of the job.
“Bedfordshire has less than 1,300 officers, and if a single officer is lost from duty, not only is this appalling, but our resources, which are already stretched, become an even thinner blue line.”
Bedfordshire Police Federation chairman, Steve Bozward, added: “Assaults continue to rise. The only way to deal with thugs who punch, bite and spit at our officers is to jail them.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here