'Police officers are going home with broken bones'

A Police Federation representative has said officers are being strangled and suffocated and "going home with broken bones" after figures revealed attacks were increasing.

New data obtained from a Freedom of Information request showed that Suffolk Police officers were assaulted at least 622 times in the 12 months to April 2026.

Matt Paisley, vice chairman of the Suffolk Police Federation, said that was "not the full picture" and the actual amount of violence being endured was much higher.

He added that some of those on the front line had come to accept being attacked as "habitual" and an "occupational hazard".

"They feel assaults against police are often treated as expected in the role, and that's wrong. Assault is assault," he said.

"Officers are going home with broken skin and bones, bruises and cuts. Just because someone wears a uniform doesn't mean violence against them is acceptable."

According to the findings, there were 448 assaults or assaults by beating of a constable and 109 assaults occasioning actual bodily harm, in the period.

Other offences included grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent to resist or prevent arrest, GBH serious wound without intent and strangulation and suffocation.

There is a year-on-year increase in reported police officer assaults. Between April 2024 and April 2025, there were 541 cases, compared with the year to March 2024, when there were 496.

With about 1,400 officers serving Suffolk, Paisley said he believed many would have been assaulted more than once and were not always reporting it.

He also said the rise of social media and criticism of policing was making it even more difficult and was encouraging attacks.

"You're dealing with aggressive individuals while phones are being shoved in your face," he said.

"Everything you do can be clipped, shared and taken out of context. Officers are trying to de-escalate situations while also worrying how their actions will look online."

According to the Police Federation's "Copped Enough" campaign, across England and Wales there were more than 31,000 assaults on officers each year – or 86 officers every day.

Paisley is calling for tougher sentences and greater support from courts and the criminal justice system so that officers feel empowered to report attacks.

"Police officers are people - they get out of bed, say goodbye to their families and put on a uniform to keep the public safe," he said.

"They simply want to do their job and go home safely at the end of the shift."

The maximum penalty for common assault or battery against an emergency worker is two years in jail.

This was increased from 12 months in 2022 following public consultation and in recognition of the vital role emergency workers play in protecting the public.

The law also requires courts to treat assaults on emergency workers as an aggravating factor when sentencing for certain violent or sexual offences.

A government spokesperson told the BBC that violence against police officers was "completely unacceptable".

"[This] is why we have strengthened the law, including increasing the maximum penalty to two years in prison and introducing further protections to ensure front-line staff are properly protected," they added.

The Crown Prosecution Service was contacted for comment. Suffolk Police said it would not comment.

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