Assaults on police officers lose Londoners 16 years of policing in a single year (Islington Liberal Democrats)

Islington Liberal Democrats <Islington_ld@cix.co.uk>

Assaults on police officers lose Londoners 16 years of policing in a single year

March 20, 2009 10:05 AM

Bridget Fox and Sarah Ludford with police care

Bridget Fox, with Sarah Ludford: concerned about missing police

Recently released figures for 2007/8 show a worrying level of working days lost by the police due to assaults on officers.

The Metropolitan Police, covering Islington and the other London boroughs, lost 5,848 working days in a single year. That adds up to over 16 years' worth of police days lost.

The Metropolitan Police lost significantly more working days than any other police area, new figures reveal.

Liberal Democrat campaigner, Bridget Fox, said:

"Violence against police officers is totally unacceptable. They are putting themselves at risk every day for the community.

"And these numbers of missing police are also unacceptable. It's shocking to think Londoners have lost over 16 years' worth of policing in one year alone.

"Islington residents tell me they want police officers out on patrol where they can see them, and quick to respond when help is needed. Too often we are told no officers are available.

"Police officers are clearly not being provided with the protection that they need to do their jobs. And that means the public are less protected too.

"I am asking the Metropolitan Police Authority to look into this as a matter of urgency. And we need the Government to make it clear that they will back prosecuting the offenders and putting them through the courts."

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.

Most badly hit was the Metropolitan Police, with 5,848 days lost, followed by West Midlands (1,166), Northumbria (1,075) and Greater Manchester (832). The figures were released in a written parliamentary answer from Policing Minister Vernon Coaker.