Police attacks: Officers kicked and punched daily, PSNI say

The PSNI said there had been 15,320 reports in the last five years

Eight officers are assaulted every day in Northern Ireland, on average, while on duty, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has said.

It said the assaults ranged from being spat at, head butted, kicked, punched and having missiles thrown at them.

The PSNI said there had been 15,320 reports in the last five years.

One officer based in Londonderry said the injuries he sustained after being hit by a petrol bomb took a toll on his family.

The constable was on duty during searches in the Creevagh Heights area of the city when disorder broke out.

One officer was struck on the arm by a petrol bomb

"A petrol bomb bounced off the side of one of our trucks, before striking me on the arm," he said.

"I was taken to hospital for treatment to second-degree burns and nerve damage which meant I was off work for a month."

A Newry-based officer suffered a concussion after she was head-butted by a man she was escorting into police custody.

"All I remember is feeling his head on mine and then seeing stars. I count myself lucky - it could have been much more serious had he got the front of my head," she said.

"I'm still recovering from the assault. I had pain in my head for two weeks and am still dealing with the mental impact.

"These type of attacks are not acceptable. We are not human punch bags. We are doing our best to make a difference."

'Last thing we need'

Supt Gary Busch from the PSNI's Operational Support Department said the assaults posed a serious threat to the vital service they provided.

"Assaults on our officers and staff place additional unnecessary burden at a time where our resources are already stretched with declining officer numbers," he added.

"The last thing the service needs is officers not being able to finish their shift due to injury."

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The chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland, Liam Kelly, described the assaults as "totally unacceptable".

"We are not society's punch bag or a release valve for those who seek to impose themselves and harm and intimidate others," he said.

In the year 2022/2023 there were 3,272 assaults on officers, of which 971 involved injury, police figures show.

"We would appeal to the justice minister to move at pace on increased sentencing guidelines in support of both our officers and our emergency service partners," Mr Kelly said.