Formby's MP calls for tougher sentences for those who assault Police Officers

Sefton Central Labour MP, Bill Esterson said that the government must do more to support police who are assaulted while on duty. The MP met members of the Police Federation who told Mr Esterson how often those who attack police officers are not prosecuted or are only given lenient sentences. The Police Federation also told Mr Esterson that more than 23,000 officers were assaulted last year alone.

Labour MP, Bill Esterson said: “It is simply not good enough that over 23,000 police officers were assaulted last year. The government should make it a much higher priority to look after our public servants, people who put themselves on the front line to keep the rest of us safe. So when a police officer is assaulted, the perpetrators should know that the penalties will be severe."

Bill went on to say: "It is simply not good enough that the Conservatives are letting our police down and giving the wrong message to criminals. I heard about assaults which led to just a few months in prison and even in some cases where no one was prosecuted. This was despite serious injuries which have caused long term damage. The government has also made matters worse by cutting the numbers of police. One reason for the number of assaults is that there are not enough officers to support each other. Safety should come first both for public servants and for the public. That can only happen if the government makes sure that it invests in our police. It is short sighted and a false economy to have cut so much from police budgets."

"Merseyside has seen the biggest cuts and our police deserve support from their government. Sadly the government simply doesn’t seem to care about those who put the rest of us first by serving the public and that cannot be right. No one should go to work fearing that they might be assaulted. The police understand that theirs is a dangerous job at times. But they have the right to as much protection as possible and they have the right to expect that those who do attack police officers on duty are prosecuted and sentenced to reflect the magnitude of what they have done.”