Police Assaults Surge as Superintendent O’Malley Says Officers Should Never Tolerate Being Attacked

Thousands of Merseyside Police officers have been attacked in recent years, reflecting a dramatic rise in assaults nationwide. Newly obtained data reveals that more than 44,000 assaults on police officers were recorded in England and Wales in 2023. According to the government’s official crime and outcome figures, one in four of these attacks resulted in injury to an officer.

This represents a 9% increase from 2022 and a staggering 48% rise compared to five years ago before the pandemic. Locally, Merseyside Police’s figures show 1,026 assaults on officers in 2021, 1,010 in 2022, and 1,022 in 2023 across the five metropolitan boroughs of Liverpool, Wirral, St Helens, Sefton, and Knowsley.

Liverpool was identified as the most likely borough for assaults on police constables, followed by Wirral. Merseyside Police Superintendent Michael O’Malley told the ECHO: “Our officers have to deal with violence and challenging situations daily, putting their own lives and personal safety on the line every day to keep us all safe. However, they should never have to tolerate or accept being assaulted or verbally abused when carrying out their duties.”

He emphasized the dedication of officers: “Our officers go to work each day knowing that they might have to step into a situation that most people would run away from to keep the people of Merseyside safe. I’m sure the vast majority of law-abiding members of the public would agree that assaults on police officers or other emergency workers are unacceptable.”

Superintendent O’Malley stressed the broader impact of these assaults: “Not only do they have a massive impact on the officers themselves but also on their families and work colleagues, and as with all acts of violence we will fully investigate and prosecute offenders where appropriate.”

He issued a stern warning to potential offenders: “My message to those who carry out violence against police is this: remember, you and your families often need our help so think about that when you’re dealing with officers and the way you behave towards them. If anyone crosses that line, we will not hesitate to take action.”

Despite the significant number of incidents in Merseyside, Birmingham recorded the highest number of assaults on police constables in 2023, with 1,292 assaults. However, when adjusted for population size, officers in Middlesbrough faced the highest risk, with 566 attacks per 100,000 people over the last three years.

The National Police Chiefs’ Council spokesperson condemned the assaults, stating: “The health and wellbeing of our workforce is a top priority for all police chiefs, and we are constantly listening to feedback from those on the ground. Policing is a stressful job, and officers can be exposed to some of life’s most challenging situations, which is why they are specially trained to try and reduce the risk to themselves and others. Assaults on our frontline workers are deplorable, and what makes these figures even more unacceptable is that officers come to harm when trying to keep others and the wider community safe.”

These figures underscore the harsh reality faced by many officers daily, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to protect those who serve and safeguard our communities.