Arrests after police face 'shocking' abuse

More officers are set to be on duty in Warwickshire during the Euro 2024 tournament

There have been multiple arrests following a weekend in which police officers were subjected to a "truly shocking" level of violence and abuse.

Officers reported being spat at, kicked, punched, threatened and bitten as they responded to incidents in Warwickshire, police said.

A 38-year-old woman was said to have bitten an officer during her arrest on suspicion of drink driving in the early hours of Monday.

A 53-year-old man was detained after a special constable was spat at following his arrest over an assault at a house in Warwick on Saturday.

That incident followed a separate matter in which a woman was said to have spat at officers when being detained over damage to a shop front in Leamington Spa.

In addition, a woman, 59, is reported by the Warwickshire force to have kicked and pushed officers as they attempted to arrest a man in Cubbington on Saturday. A 19-year-old woman is said to have kicked an officer responding to a report of a disturbance in Rugby.

“The level of violence and abuse officers were subjected to over the weekend was truly shocking," said Supt Steve Davies, head of neighbourhood and response policing in the area.

He said with additional officers on duty during the Euros football tournament, it was "timely to warn people that we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour".

Warwickshire Police said the 38-year-old woman had since been charged with assaulting an emergency worker. The remainder of those detained on suspicion of the same alleged offence have been bailed pending further inquiries.

Meanwhile, a man who allegedly threatened officers while in custody in Nuneaton was charged with using threatening and abusive language to cause harassment, alarm, or distress, the force added.