One police officer was left with broken ribs whilst another three officers were assaulted during a night of violence in Portsmouth last night. A night of violence that would have been reflected on Police response teams up-and-down the country.
@HCResponseCops tweeted: ‘What a night!!! Four of our officers assaulted in Portsmouth alone. One of them has broken ribs. We are not punch bags’
Only last month, Hampshire Police revealed that NINE of their Police Officers had been assaulted in one weekend, with officers being bitten, punched and spat at.
This comes at a time when the Assault on Emergency Services Workers Bill is currently making its way through Parliament.
The aim of this Bill, in part, is to ensure that tougher sentences are handed down to anyone convicted of assaulting members of the emergency services.
Many people tweeted in support of Hampshire’s Officers with @MummaWesty saying:
‘As a child/teenager I was raised to respect Police Officers.
‘Unfortunately this does not seem to be the case anymore.
‘It’s boils down to parenting and respect. It’s awful to see the way society is breaking down. I hope the injured officers have a speedy recovery.’
@Keennyn7 tweeted:
‘Sadly the judiciary and govt think we are expendable and are punchbags.
‘Sad but very true, but what is really bad is our senior command teams are almost impotent in their response and support for their greatest assets’.
However, not everyone was so compassionate to the brave men and women who risk their own lives in order to protect the lives of complete strangers.
@13thBlueKnight tweeted:
‘Its the job you signed up to do.
‘Its called school of hard knocks.
‘Served in the police for over twenty years, left with a permanent disability.
‘I do not condone violence, but nor would I run to Twitter for a career I chose to do.’
In response, @HCResponseCops tweeted back:
‘Firstly thank you for your service. Secondly you are wrong.
If i want to be punched i go boxing. If i want a “bit of rough and tumble” i play rugby.
I do both regularly. However i come to work to help and protect people in need… not be assaulted. thank you’
It would seem that the reputation of buffoons going out and getting hammered over the bank holiday weekend and then taking it out on our emergency services shows no sign of abating any-time soon.
The emergency services are left to pick up the pieces from people who cannot control themselves and who act like deranged animals after a couple of drinks.
We all know that people have a right to have a good time – but if your definition of having a ‘good time’ means going out, drinking too much and then fighting with the Cops then perhaps you need to grow up a bit.
Our Police Officers are here to help they are not here to be used as punch bags just because people cannot handle their drink.
It’s an embarrassment.
Meanwhile, in nearby Dorest, Police Officers risked their own lives in order to save someone drowning in the sea.
Chief Superintendent Mark Callaghan (@chsuptcallaghan) tweeted:
‘Two of our officers from Poole have just saved the life of a lady who walked out to sea.
‘The officers were neck deep and managed to get her back to shore.
‘A bit wet and cold but thankfully OK Thanks also to RNLI and coastguard & public who dialled 999 #proud’
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Ah the ‘joys’ of Smuff on a bank holiday weekend.