Tough action needed to halt level of attacks on police in NI, federation warns
The federation, which represents rank-and-file Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officers, said nine officers on average are being assaulted every day in the region.
During recent unrest in Northern Ireland, a total of 87 officers were injured, with some treated in hospital.
However, the federation has highlighted that officers deal with the daily risk of assault which often leads to injury and time off work, placing additional pressure on serving colleagues.
It has launched the 'Let Them Protect' public campaign, backed by PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and Justice Minister Naomi Long.
Federation chairman Liam Kelly said the nine-a-day figure was conservative as many officers who suffer more minor assaults do not report them.
He said: 'These figures are shocking and appalling. It's high time we saw a much tougher approach with assailants who strike, kick, punch and spit at our colleagues.
'We want the public to realise the full extent of what our officers – themselves fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters – have to suffer.
'It's not right they should end up in hospital with injuries they sustain while protecting the community.'
Mr Kelly added: 'Decisive and tough sentences handed down by magistrates and judges will deter those who assault our police officers.
'Sentencing guidelines must be strengthened to empower the courts, to implement an effective deterrent.'
Ms Long said police officers in Northern Ireland demonstrate 'extraordinary courage' every day.
But she added: 'Shockingly, some people still feel that it is OK to attack or assault a police officer or that it's simply part of the job.
'That is not an acceptable attitude towards any other member of society and is certainly not an acceptable manner to treat those who uphold the rule of law and place themselves in harm's way to protect others.'
She added: 'I am committed to introducing stronger legislation to protect police officers and staff and will include a new offence, with a higher maximum penalty, for assaulting a person who is providing a service to the public, performing a public duty or delivering a public service in the Sentencing Bill.
'I hope to introduce this legislation to the Assembly in the autumn of this year.'
Chief Constable Mr Boutcher said: 'Policing is a tough profession and the officers and staff of the police service who stand up to serve the people of Northern Ireland deserve nothing but our admiration and respect.
'Every one of them does a vital job and whilst they come to work knowing that on any given day they could be faced with difficult and dangerous situations, what we should never accept, is for them to be physically assaulted.
'Being attacked should never be thought of as part of anyone's 'normal day' at work.'
Mr Boutcher said the public cannot continue to take policing for granted.
He said: 'Support for policing, and for our police officers, needs to be society-wide, and it should be recognised and understood that it is simply not acceptable to assault or attack police officers.
'We cannot, and will not, simply stand by and accept it.'
Policing Board chairman Mukesh Sharma said: 'Police officers step forward when others step back.
'They put their lives on the line for others every day and they do not deserve to come to work to be kicked, bitten or assaulted in any other way.
'Regrettably, figures show that officer assaults are no longer isolated incidents and should not be tolerated.'
After Thursday's launch event at Stormont, Mr Boutcher and Northern Ireland's Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Herron issued a joint statement on the recent disorder.
They said: 'The actions of these offenders are unacceptable and we can assure the public that those found to be responsible will be met with the full force of the criminal law. That includes those responsible for malicious attacks on victims, and on police officers subjected to intolerable physical and verbal abuse.
'To meet this shared determination, there has been and will continue to be close engagement between our two organisations. Police investigators and prosecutors are ensuring that offences are being investigated, and files submitted to the PPS for prosecution decision, as quickly as possible.
'A robust, collaborative approach is being taken to ensure that identified offenders will face full consequences for their actions. There should be no doubt for any individual found to have taken part in public disorder, that the consequences are serious.
'As well as prosecution for relevant public order offences, we can assure our communities and the police officers who help keep them safe, that where there is evidence of assaults on police or a hate crime motivation, this will be put before the courts as aggravating factors and appropriate sentences pursued.
'The violent scenes of recent weeks have endangered lives and property, homes and families. Those responsible, who have spread fear and threatened public safety, will not be tolerated.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Belfast Islamic Centre: Man arrested after alert
The Belfast Islamic Centre has said it was at the centre of a security alert in south happened at the building on University Road on Friday night.A 34-year-old man has been Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said a number of cordons were in place over night during the alert.
Sky News
3 hours ago
- Sky News
Mahmoud Khalil: US student detained by immigration officials over pro-Palestinian protests released
Why you can trust Sky News Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil has been released after 104 days in immigration detention in the US. A judge ruled the Columbia University graduate student should be released on Friday. He has become a symbol of Donald Trump's crackdown on protests on university campuses after being arrested by the US immigration agency ICE on 8 March. "Whether you are a US citizen, an immigrant or just a person on this land doesn't mean that you are less of a human," he said after being released from detention in Louisiana. Mr Khalil is a legal US resident and isn't accused of breaking any laws during pro-Palestine protests, where he served as a spokesperson for student activists. He is expected to head to New York to reunite with his wife, who is a US citizen, and his baby son, who was born while Mr Khalil was in detention. 0:49 "Justice prevailed, but it's very long overdue," he said. "This shouldn't have taken three months." The Trump administration is seeking to deport Khalil over his role in the protests. However, Judge Michael Farbiarz said it would be "highly, highly unusual" for the government to continue detaining a legal resident who was unlikely to flee and hadn't been accused of any violence. During an hour-long hearing conducted by phone, the New Jersey-based judge said the government had "clearly not met" the standards for detention. 0:47 The government is appealing Mr Khalil's release, and an immigration judge, Judge Jamee Comans, has ordered the student to be "removed". "An immigration judge, not a district judge, has the authority to decide if Mr Khalil should be released or detained," wrote the Department of Homeland Security in a post on X. The US secretary of state Marco Rubio is pushing for Mr Khalil to be expelled from America because he says his continued presence could harm foreign policy. The Trump administration argues that noncitizens who take part in pro-Palestinian protests should be deported, as it considers the protests to be antisemitic. 0:54 Civil rights groups, such as the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), which is suing the administration, argue this conflates antisemitism with criticism of Israel in order to silence dissent. Judge Farbiarz ruled the government can't deport Mr Khalil on the basis that his presence could undermine foreign policy, but it can continue deportation over allegations that he lied on his green card application. Mr Khalil disputes these allegations. He had to surrender his passport but will get his green card back and be given official documents permitting limited travel within the country, including New York and Michigan to visit family, New Jersey and Louisiana for court appearances and Washington to lobby Congress. Judge Farbiarz's decision comes after several other students targeted for their activism have been released from custody, including another former Palestinian student at Columbia, Mohsen Mahdawi; a Tufts University student, Rumeysa Ozturk; and a Georgetown University scholar, Badar Khan Suri.
Belfast Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Bomb squad called to Belfast Islamic Centre after suspect device is hurled inside in ‘vile attack'
A man linked to a security alert at the Belfast Islamic Centre claimed he was "trying to save the world'. It is understood the incident occurred between 10pm and 10.30pm last night in the University Road area of south Belfast. Staff at the Islamic Centre told the Belfast Telegraph that a device was thrown inside the building. The centre had to be evacuated, disrupting evening prayers. A video from the first floor of the centre, seen by this newspaper, shows a man reaching into the building. One witness said he saw flames as the suspect allegedly attempted to set fire to the site. "I saw the flames in his hand from above but couldn't capture it in the video," they said. A pedestrian walking by stopped the suspect from doing any damage. A clip of the incident shows the young man grabbing the suspect and pulling him away. The suspect can be heard telling the pedestrian that he was "trying to save the world" as he was being dragged away. "He was the first to stop him," the witness continued. "Only then did we reach there." Officers subsequently arrested the man and cordoned off the site to conduct further investigations. A spokesperson for the Islamic Centre today said they strongly condemned the 'vile attack'. 'During evening prayers last night, one of the windows was broken and a device was thrown inside the building. 'Everyone was evacuated from the building and the police were quick to respond. 'We were unable to continue night prayers as the whole area was cordoned off and nobody was allowed near the building. 'A bomb squad eventually removed the device in the early hours of this morning. 'We have had incidents in the past but nothing of this kind.' "I think he'd be very well qualified": Leo Varadkar on Colum Eastwood Irish presidential run The PSNI has been contacted for comment. Overnight, the PSNI said officers dealt with a security alert in the area. 'Police are currently at the scene of a security alert at University Road in south Belfast. A number of cordons are in place in the vicinity,' it said. 'A 34-year-old man has been arrested and is currently in custody. 'Members of the public are asked to avoid the area at this time.'
