Six North Wales Police officers assaulted over weekend – one in Penycae

Six North Wales Police officers have been “viciously assaulted” over the course of the weekend whilst assisting members of the public the North Wales Police Federation has said.

North Wales Police has also reiterated that it will not tolerate assaults on officers after the attacks in separate incidents across North Wales.

All the officers sustained injuries in the incidents in Penycae, Abergele, Gronant and Bagillt.

Two of the officers were injured when, in Abergele, Conwy, a male allegedly drove a motorbike at them, losing control then making contact with the officers. There a 35-year-old local man remains in police custody having been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder on the officers and other offences.

Superintendent Neil Harrison said; “An assault of any kind should never be considered “part of the job”. Our officers are out there doing a demanding job, working hard to protect the most vulnerable and to keep people safe.

“They get good training and equipment and we seek to ensure that welfare arrangements are readily available when they become victims of an assault. These attacks leave their mark physically and mentally on the officers and in some cases their families and are totally unacceptable.

“To improve the safety of officers the force recently announced that 100 more will be Taser trained. We want is to make sure that officers are equipped to protect themselves as best they can and to feel confident out on duty on our streets. Tasers and also body worn video play an important part in this.”

Six people were arrested in relation to the weekend offences.

Mark Jones, from North Wales Police Federation said: “The incidents over this weekend, particularly the incident in Abergele, highlight the extreme risks our police officers face on a daily basis.

It is only by pure luck that our colleagues were not severely injured but although the physical injuries may be relatively minor, we should never underestimate the mental trauma endured.

“The Police Federation will make sure our members are cared for and that they get all the support they need. Our commitment is to continue working with North Wales Police to ensure that our members are afforded the best possible protection, equipment, training and resources to keep them safe whilst protecting the public.

“We also demand that the justice system fully utilises their sentencing powers to send an clear message that assaults and attacks on emergency workers will never be accepted.”

Those who attack police, paramedics, firefighters, nurses and other blue light workers face tougher sentences following new legislation introduced late last year.

The Assaults on Emergency Workers (Offences) Act creates a new aggravated offence of an assault against a member of the emergency services and doubles the maximum sentence for these cowardly and despicable acts from six to 12 months.

The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) Protect the Protectors campaign was launched at Parliament in February 2017 in connection with a Ten-Minute-Rule Bill introduced by Halifax MP Holly Lynch.

She had joined PC Craig Gallant on patrol in West Yorkshire in summer 2016 and had dialled 999 after witnessing the single-crewed officer being surrounded by a hostile crowd.

The Bill was later picked up by Chris Bryant MP and it received universal support to become law.