Eight Kent Cops Attacked in Just 24 Hours
Eight Kent Police officers were viciously assaulted in under a day while working to protect the public on Monday, 26 October 2020. Constables faced kicks, bites, spitting, and even headbutts across the county as they responded to various incidents.
Spat at, Kicked, Bitten – Officers Targeted Everywhere
- Just after 1am in Addison Road, Tunbridge Wells, an officer attending a fight was spat at twice by a suspect.
- Two hours later in Castle Street, Canterbury, a constable was pelted with a phone, kicked, verbally abused, and drenched with a glass of water while helping a distressed woman.
- In Thanet’s Margate, two officers suffered assaults after a 10.10am disturbance in Zion Place – one was spat at, another kicked in the leg.
- In Medway’s Chatham, a fleeing suspect pushed over a police officer after a car stop around 2pm.
- Shortly after, a PC was kicked twice in the leg while arresting a woman for a public order offence in Tunbridge Wells’ Grosvenor Road.
- Later in Margate High Street at 8.50pm, two officers were assaulted; one was headbutted and bitten on the leg.
- That same evening, another officer suffered a bite to the hand after taking a teenage girl to hospital.
Rise in Attacks Prompts Tougher Sentences
Assaults on emergency workers in Kent surged by 45% from March to May 2020 compared to 2019, jumping from 245 to 368 cases. In response, the Government recently announced harsher penalties – offenders now face up to two years behind bars for assaulting emergency personnel.
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.”
“Assaults, whatever the circumstances, remain completely unacceptable. Policing is dangerous and carries risk, but I will never accept that assaults just ‘go with the job’. I will fight every step of the way to ensure those intent on causing harm to my officers pay for their crimes.”
Suspects Arrested and Bailed After Attacks
- Cosmin Ghiran, 38, of 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 after Thorold Road, Chatham incident.
- 18-year-old woman arrested and bailed following the Tunbridge Wells Grosvenor Road attack.
- 17-year-old girl arrested and bailed in connection with assaults in Margate High Street and QEQM Hospital.
