5,848 days lost at the Metropolitan Police due to assaults on officers (Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats)

Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats <info@westminsterlibdems.org.uk>

5,848 days lost at the Metropolitan Police due to assaults on officers

March 21, 2009 8:14 AM

LibDem parliamentary candidate for Westminster North Mark Blackburn on Westbourne Grove

Police officers work hard to keep our streets safe and many are harmed in the process. They deserve better protection.

The Metropolitan Police lost 5,848 working days in a single year because of assaults on their officers, according to new government figures.

LibDem parliamentary candidate for Westminster North, Mark Blackburn, said: "Violence against police officers is utterly unacceptable. It looks like police officers are not getting the protection they need to do their jobs.

"Current measures are clearly not effective enough as 5,848 days are lost because of attacks on Met police officers.

"We must have zero tolerance on attacks, abuse and threats of violence. That means prosecuting the offenders and putting them through the courts.

"The Government must do more to ensure the safety of police officers in what is already a very challenging working environment - patrolling London's street."

Figures show that 34 forces lost a total of 15,338 officer working days due to assaults in the latest year for which figures are available.

The Metropolitan Police was the most badly hit, by a long way, followed by the West Midlands (1,166), Northumbria (1,075) and Greater Manchester (832). The figures were released in a written parliamentary answer from Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker MP.