Eight Kent Police Officers Attacked in Just 24 Hours
Eight Kent Police officers were assaulted during their shifts on Monday 26 October 2020, as they tackled crime and kept the public safe across the county. The officers faced kicks, bites, spits, and abuse in a brutal assault spree within less than a day.
Violent Attacks from Tunbridge Wells to Margate
- 1am, Tunbridge Wells: An officer called to an altercation in Addison Road was spat at twice by a suspect.
- 3am, Canterbury: A distressed woman incident in Castle Street saw an officer get hit by a thrown phone, kicked, verbally abused, and doused with water.
- 10.10am, Thanet: Two officers responding to Zion Place disturbance in Margate were spat at and kicked.
- 2pm, Chatham: An officer was pushed over by a fleeing suspect after a car stop in Thorold Road.
- Shortly after 2pm, Tunbridge Wells: A PC was kicked twice during the arrest of a woman for a public order offence in Grosvenor Road.
- 8.50pm, Margate: Two officers responding to an altercation in Margate High Street endured a headbutt and a bite. Later, another officer taking a teenage girl to hospital was bitten on the hand.
Assaults on Emergency Workers Surge in Kent
New statistics reveal assaults on emergency workers in Kent rose by 45% between March and May 2020 compared to 2019, jumping from 245 to 368 attacks.
This crackdown comes as new Government rules introduce tougher penalties. Now, anyone convicted of assaulting an emergency worker could face up to two years in jail.
Kent Police Chief Constable Alan Pughsley said: “I continue to be appalled by the level of assaults that are being experienced by my officers whilst they simply try to do their jobs. All assaults, whatever the circumstances, remain completely unacceptable.”
“Policing is dangerous, it carries risk, it always has and sadly it always will, but there will never be an acceptance on my part that assaults just ‘go with the job’. I will fight every step of the way to see those that are intent on causing my officers harm pay for their crimes.”
Suspects Arrested and Bailed After Spate of Attacks
- Cosmin Ghiran, 38 from Addison Road, Tunbridge Wells, charged with assaulting an emergency worker and damaging a police van.
- 20-year-old woman arrested and bailed over the Castle Street, Canterbury incident.
- 26-year-old man arrested and bailed after assaults in Zion Place, Margate.
- 20-year-old man arrested for assault in Thorold Road, Chatham.
- 18-year-old woman arrested and bailed for incident in Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Wells.
- 17-year-old girl arrested and bailed in connection with attacks in Margate High Street and QEQM Hospital.
Kent Police urge anyone with information to come forward as they ramp up efforts to protect officers on the front line.
