Move to double jail terms for those who assault emergency service workers welcomed by North Wales Police Federation

Individuals who assault or attack emergency workers face longer jail terms as a new law backed by government receives Royal Assent.

The Bill makes it an aggravating factor to assault or sexually assault a police officer or any other member of the emergency services, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, double the existing six-month maximum sentence for common assault.

This covers police, prison officers, custody officers, fire service personnel, search and rescue services and paramedics.

The new law will also mean that judges must consider tougher sentences for a range of other offences – including GBH and sexual assault – if the victim is an emergency worker.

The move has been welcomed by the North Wales Police Federation, with branch secretary, Mark Jones, describing it as a “significant day on the journey to better protect our emergency service workers”.

“For a long time the Police Federation has been campaigning tirelessly that there should be tougher sentences for those who choose to violently attack those whose job it is to protect others,” he continued.

“I continue to repeat that an attack on an emergency service worker is an attack on society as a whole and will never, ever be acceptable.

“We now need to see the courts utilising this new legislation to the maximum effect so that a strong, clear message is sent that we must ‘Protect the Protectors’ and we will be holding the Courts to account should they fail our dedicated and hard-working frontline workers.

“The Police Federation will continue to put pressure on those with responsibility to ensure our members are adequately equipped, trained and in position to protect our communities but, importantly, protect themselves when under attack.”

Home Office figures show there were more than 26,000 assaults against police officers (including British Transport Police) in England and Wales during 2017/18. However the Police Federation believes the true figure to be significantly higher, due to under-reporting.

The measures will come into force in November.