Police face 'unacceptable risks' as assaults rise

Police officers are facing "unacceptable risks" amid an increase in the number of assaults, according to a senior officer.

Grant Willis, Assistant Chief Constable for Local Policing at West Mercia Police, said physical and verbal assaults against officers and emergency responders were "on the rise".

"In our busiest times, in our busiest months, our statistics will tell us on average an officer is getting assaulted every day," he said.

The West Mercia force said there had been 141 incidents of their officers being injured in assaults over the last 12 months.

Police officer Ryan Davis was left with a dislocated and broken ankle and multiple other injuries after being viciously beaten whilst trying to break up a fight in 2024.

Richard Quinn, 49, and his son Alex Quinn, 20, were both jailed last month for assault, causing grievous bodily harm on PC Davis, and for assault by beating on a member of the public, after pleading guilty to the charges.

Willis told BBC Hereford and Worcester the attack on the officer, who is still recovering from the ordeal, was "sadly not isolated".

"This is probably one of the most shocking incidents that I've seen against an emergency worker, in my experience of working and responding to emergencies for over 25 years," he said.

"I can't help but continually pay tribute to PC Davis. It will last on him forever. It will last on me forever receiving the call and being told of what had happened that evening."

Willis said incidents were "happening around the country" and every assault was "one too many".

"No one goes into policing thinking its risk free, but there are some things that are unacceptable risks that we shouldn't have to face and that is being assaulted for trying to do your very best," he said.

"Anyone who is donning a uniform... going out there to save lives and to protect people from harm, they're husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, they're best friends, they're the people that are all around you that also have a life.

"These things have to be kept in context, they are rare but every single one is one too many."

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