The Chief Constable of Cheshire Constabulary, Mark Roberts, has spoken out strongly after ten police officers and PCSOs were assaulted over the course of just 48 hours, in what he described as “completely unacceptable” attacks on frontline staff.
The assaults, which took place between Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 April, occurred across multiple locations in Cheshire while officers were responding to routine incidents. Victims were reportedly punched, pushed, kicked in the face, and in one shocking case, bitten.
Fortunately, none of the officers sustained serious injuries, but the force confirmed that criminal charges will be pursued against all those involved.
“Our Officers Are Not Punchbags”
Chief Constable Mark Roberts delivered a strong statement following the surge in violence:
“While the nature of policing inevitably requires officers to deal with violent and challenging situations, that does not mean that our officers can be used as punchbags.
Nobody should come to work expecting to be verbally or physically assaulted.”
He added that although the assaults did not result in serious harm, the psychological and operational impact is substantial. Officers injured in the line of duty may need to take time off work, which affects policing capacity and increases the burden on remaining personnel.
“These attacks are unacceptable and will not be tolerated. We are committed to protecting our officers and pursuing justice through the courts,” he added.
Assaults on Police: A Growing Concern
The weekend’s assaults reflect a wider trend of increasing violence against emergency service workers across the UK. Assaulting a police officer is a criminal offence, and in recent years, courts have issued tougher sentences under the Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act.
Cheshire Constabulary is urging the public to respect those who serve and is working to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all frontline officers.
